Surname Rosskelly - Meaning and Origin
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Rosskelly: What does the surname Rosskelly mean?
The surname Rosskelly is an anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic name O Roscoilaigh, which is derived from the Gaelic word "ros" meaning "wood" and "coille" meaning "woodland". The surname is associated with the Roscommon area of County Roscommon in Ireland, which is known for its picturesque wooded hills and mountains.
The Rosskelly surname is believed to have been borne by descendants of the powerful O’Connor Clan, a sept of the ruling O’Neill dynasty in ancient Ulster. Many of these O’Connors migrated to County Roscommon around the mid-16th century, and it is likely that the Rosskelly name was adopted by members of this extended group as they began to settle in the area.
The Rosskelly family have remained in the area surrounding Roscommon for centuries, and many of the same places associated with the clan still bear their name. This includes Rosskelly Mountain, located about 40 km west of Roscommon Town and Rosskelly Castle, located just south of the town in the nearby village of Dysart. Both landmarks are still standing to this day and serve as a reflection of the family’s long-standing presence in this part of Ireland.
In summary, the surname Rosskelly is an anglicised version of the name O Roscoilaigh, which is derived from the Gaelic words meaning “wood” and “woodland”. The surname is associated with the area surrounding Roscommon in County Roscommon, Ireland and is believed to have been borne by descendants of the O’Connor Clan. To this day, many of the same landmarks in the area still bear the surname Rosskelly, serving as a testament to their legacy and centuries-long presence in the area.
Order DNA origin analysisRosskelly: Where does the name Rosskelly come from?
The last name Rosskelly is quite a common name today, especially in parts of Ireland. Specifically, Rosskelly is a popular surname in counties mainly comprising of people of Irish descent such as County Cork, County Kerry, and County Limerick. It is also widely found in Ireland’s capital of Dublin and beyond.
In addition, the Rosskelly surname is also found in other countries such as the United States, Australia, and Canada. However, the variations of the surname Rosskelly such as Roskelly and Roskelly may also be found in the Caribbean, notably Jamaica.
The Rosskelly surname is associated with many branches of Irish nobility as it dates back centuries, containing a combination of a Gaelic name from the Celtic language. According to the Irish historical foundation, the surname's origin may likely have derived from the old Irish name Ó Rosgaile.
The Rosskelly surname has also spread to different countries in Europe, especially to non-English speaking countries in the continent. This includes French, Italian and German speaking countries, possibly due to Irish emigration throughout those regions.
Overall, the Rosskelly surname is relatively rare in comparison to other Irish surnames, yet still quite well spread throughout the world as it is a fairly common name in Ireland and other countries today.
Variations of the surname Rosskelly
Rosskelly is a rare Irish surname, originally derived from the Gaelic form, "O'Rosgaill". Its variants include Roskelly, Rosskellie, Rosskilly, Rosskealy, and Rosskelley.
The O'Rosgaill surname is derived from two old Irish words, "ros" meaning "wood" and "ceall" meaning "novice." The combination of these two words forms "ros-ceall," which translates to a "novice of the woods."
As families often adopted different spellings interchangeably, there are many variants of the Rosskelly surname. Within Irish records alone, Rosskelly can also appear as Rosgill, Rossgill, Rosscoil, Roscoil, and Roscoile.
Most Rosskellys in Ireland today originate from County Mayo and County Roscommon, though there are some scattered throughout other parts of Ireland. In the United States, there are Rosskellys living throughout much of the east coast, from New York to Florida, as well as in Texas and California.
Surnames derived from the O'Rosgaill family also include the anglicized forms O'Rossgill, Russell, Rosco, Roscoe, Rosa, and Roeschell. The Rosskelly surname is also connected to the historically prominent families of O'Grady, O'Conners, O'Neills, and O'Briens, all of whom were descended from the original O'Rosgaill sept.
Famous people with the name Rosskelly
- Lauren Rosskelly: An American actress best known for her role in the Screamers franchise
- Matt Rosskelly: An American football player who currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals
- Heather Rosskelly: An award-winning Australian television producer
- Sabrina Rosskelly: A British fashion blogger and Instagram influencer
- Jaclyn Rosskelly: An American Singer and Songwriter
- Hayley Rosskelly: An Australian television and radio presenter
- Kyle Rosskelly: An American professional wakeboarder and watersports enthusiast
- Ryan Rosskelly: A British record producer, DJ, and musician
- Martin Rosskelly: An English songwriter, producer, and musician
- Alex Rosskelly: An American venture capitalist and investor