Surname Reily - Meaning and Origin
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Reily: What does the surname Reily mean?
The surname Reily is of Irish origin and derives from the Gaelic name Ó Raghallaigh, which means "descendant of Raghallach." Raghallach is an old Irish personal name, generally considered to signify "valiant" or "courageous." Therefore, the surname Reily may imply a person coming from a line of brave or valorous ancestors. However, it's essential to remember that surnames are centuries old and their meanings don't necessarily reflect the characteristics of those who bear them today. The Reily name is widespread in Ireland, especially in County Cavan, but as with many Irish names, it can be found around the world due to the Irish Diaspora. Variations of the spelling include Riley, Reilly, O'Reilly, and others.
Order DNA origin analysisReily: Where does the name Reily come from?
The last name Reily is most commonly found in the United States of America today. It is a surname of Irish origin that has its roots in County Mayo and County Cork, two of the most southern and western counties in the Republic of Ireland.
The surname Reily is also found in Canada. There are many immigrants from Ireland now living in Canada that bring this surname with them.
In the United States, the last name Reily is most commonly found in the southeastern states of the nation. There is a large community of Irish-Americans in this region, many of whom are descended from immigrants who came to the United States in the mid-1800s. Some descendants can still be found in the cities of New Orleans, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York.
Reily can also be found in parts of Western Australia and Queensland, Australia. It is thought that the surname was brought to the country by Irish settlers during the gold rush.
Overall, Reily is a relatively common Irish surname in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking countries. Although it can be found all over the world, it is most steadily and prominently located in the areas with large Irish populations.
Variations of the surname Reily
The surname Reily is an Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh, which is derived from the Gaelic word ‘Raghallach’, roughly translating to ‘valiant’. It is also the anglicised version of the Norse byname ‘Rauðheilgr’, meaning red haired one. The surname dates back to the 10th century and is mainly found in Northern Ireland. Variants of the surname Reily include Reilly, Raely, O’Reilly, O’Riley, Raylee, Raelee, Reilley, Reillie, Railey, Rielly, Reilley and Ryley.
The variants of O’Reilly are commonly found in Northern Ireland, reflecting its early Irish heritage. The variants O’Riley, Raely and Raelee are more common in Australia and the United States, influenced by the large numbers of Irish immigrants who arrived there in the 19th century. The variant Ryley is also more common in Australia.
The surname Reily is spelled differently in different countries and throughout history. During the 17th and 18th centuries, families in Northern Ireland with the surname O’Reilly often wrote it using glyphs such as‘Ua’ or ‘O’. This spelling was localized to dozens of variants which are seen around the world today, yet all remain derivatives of the original name.
In the 19th century, the popularity of the surnamebegan to spread across the world with the increase of emigration from Ireland. Many of those who adopted the surname modified the spelling to fit the pronunciation of their local language. For example, it is often found as Reiley or Reilly in North America.
Today, many people with the surname Reily, or its variants, still trace their descent back to the O'Reilly clan of County Cavan in Ireland. There is also to be a branch of the Reilys in Dutchess County, New York in the United States, dating back to the 18th century.
Famous people with the name Reily
- Kelly Reilly: English actress who has appeared in a variety of TV shows, films, and stage performances, including the BBC series Blackout, The Libertine, and Stage Beauty.
- Jonnie Reily: US American singer, composer, and professional dancer. He is known for his modern jazz stylings and works.
- Dara Reily: Irish actress. She has appeared in several television series, films, and stage roles, including BBC drama Fair City, Inheritance, and series two of The Take.
- Alexa Reily: US American dancer and choreographer. She has served as a choreographer on Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.
- Sean Reily: Actor and voice-over artist, known for his work in animated films such as The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure and television seriessuch as Monsters, Inc.
- Brian Reily: Australian actor and writer. He is best known for his appearances on the sketch comedy series The Wedge, Offspring, and Rush.
- Nathan Reily: English actor and comedian. He has performed in a variety of productions, including several satirical BBC1 sitcoms, such as Green Wing and Free Agents.
- Jon Reily: US American basketball player best known for his time with the Chicago Bulls. He was the NBA All-Star MVP in 1993.
- Heather Reily: UK British actress known for her roles in feature films such as Layer Cake, All or Nothing, and Stargate: Atlantis.
- Fiona Reily: Irish TV and radio presenter, best known as the host of The Late Late Show. She also hosts the Saturday morning BBC Radio 2 programme, Adventures in Musicland.