DONNELLY
Ó Donnghaile is a Gaelic patronymic name signifying “descendant of Donnghal.” The personal name Donnghal is a compound of donn, meaning “brown,” and gal, meaning “valor.” Consequently the signification of the surname is “descendant of the brown‑haired warrior” or, more broadly, “descendant of the brave one with brown hair.”
The surname is of Irish origin and is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic name O’Donnghaile. In the Irish language O’ indicates a male descendant, and the base element remains as described above. The first documented spelling appears in 1603 at the Battle of Kinsale in County Cork, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and is recorded as Donnell O’Donnelly.
Historically the bearers of the name were concentrated in the north‑eastern part of the Irish Sea, particularly in County Donegal, County Tyrone and the adjacent area of County Antrim. Place‑names such as Ballydonnelly in both Tyrone and Antrim are derived from the family and indicate their long‑standing presence. The territory of the clan originally lay in County Donegal before expanding eastward.
In 1641, Patrick Madardha (O) Donnelly captured the castle at Ballydonnelly from Lord Caulfield, after which the tower was renamed Castle Caulfield. This event is documented in contemporary accounts of the Irish Confederate Wars and illustrates the political involvement of the family at that time.
Genetic and historical research suggests that most bearers of the surname descend from Donnghal O’Neill, who was the seventeenth generation in line from Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary High King of Ireland. The continuation of this lineage is evident in surviving genealogical records and the endurance of the surname in Ulster.
The Donnelly family has a duly granted Coat of Arms featuring two red lions rampant combatant supporting a right hand, with a salmon swimming in the sea in the base field. This heraldic device has been retained by successive generations and appears in official registers of arms.
In modern times the surname has spread beyond the Irish mainland. Notable individuals include Ignatius Donnelly (1831–1901), an American politician and reformer, and his sister Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly (1838–1917), an author who produced numerous religious works. Their prominence illustrates the diaspora of Irish families during the nineteenth century.
The surname remains one of the more common Irish surnames, particularly in Northern Ireland, and continues to be a marker of Gaelic heritage and cultural identity. The persistence of its historical and linguistic roots is reflected in its sustained use and the continued documentation of its bearers across both the British Isles and the wider world.
Typical given names associated with the Donnelly surname
Male
- Christopher
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Anne
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Dannelly
- Donally
- Donaley
- Donaly
- Donall
- Dennelly
- Donnell
- Dainly
- Danaly
- Daniely
- Daniley
- Danily
- Danley
- Danlley
- Danly
- Deanley
- Deneley
- Denely
- Denley
- Denloye
- Denly
- Dennely
- Dinally
- Dineley
- Dinely
- Dinley
- Donal
- Donali
- Donel
- Donela
- Doneley
- Donell
- Donella
- Donelley
- Donelli
- Donello
- Donelly
- Donely
- Donery
- Donilly
- Donily
- Donlan
- Donlay
- Donley
- Donlley
- Donlly
- Donly
- Donnal
- Donnaley
- Donnall
- Donnalley
- Donnally
- Donnaly
- Donnel
- Donnelay
- Donneley
- Donnelley
- Donnells
- Donnely
- Donnerly
- Donnery
- Donnley
- Donnlley
- Donnlly
- Donnly
- Donnoley
- Donnolley
- Donnolly
- Donnoly
- Donoley
- Donolley
- Donolly
- Donoly
- Dounelly
- Downely
- Downley
- Downly
- Dunlay
- Dunleay
- Dunley
- Dunly
- Dunolly
- Tainly
- Tanley
- Tawnley
- Tenley
- Tennily
- Tineley
- Tinlay
- Tinley
- Tinnelly
- Tonley
- Tounley
- Towneley
- Townley
- Townly
- Tunaley
- Tunley
- Tunly
- Tunnelly
- Donnellly
- Donninelli
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Donnelly in...
Braille
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Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Donnelly are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Hobnob.
There are approximately 21,271 people named Donnelly in the UK. That makes it the 408th most common surname in Britain. Around 327 in a million people in Britain are named Donnelly.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Donnelly
- Declan Donnelly - Television presenter, producer and actor
- Jack Donnelly - Actor
- Donal Donnelly - Irish theatre and film actor (1931 to 2010)
- Simon Donnelly - Scottish football player
- Dougie Donnelly - Scottish television presenter, sports broadcaster
- Liam Donnelly - Northern Irish football player
- Jamie Noel Emmanuel Donnelly-Jackson - Football player
- Elaine Donnelly - Actress
- Martin Donnelly - Civil servant
- Ciaran Donnelly - Football player
- Scott Donnelly - Football player
- Desmond Donnelly - Politician (1920 to 1974)
- Alan Donnelly - Politician
- George Donnelly - Football player
- Paul Donnelly - Football player
- Eugene Donnelly - Racing driver
- John Donnelly - Football player
- Carl Donnelly - Comedian
- Martin Donnelly - New Zealand rugby union player (1917 to 1999)
- Steven Donnelly - Irish boxer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.