Keely

Origin and Meaning: Keely is a surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Cadhla", meaning "descendant of Cadhla". The name Cadhla is said to mean "beautiful" or "graceful".

Historical Background: The Keely surname is primarily found in Ireland, especially in counties such as Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon. Many individuals bearing this surname can trace their ancestry back to the ancient Gaelic clans of Ireland.

Notable Individuals:

  • John Keely (1827–1898): An American inventor known for his work on free energy and sympathetic vibratory physics.
  • Marie Keely (1862–1929): A British suffragette and advocate for women's rights during the early 20th century.
  • Patrick Keely (1816–1896): An Irish-born American architect known for his numerous Catholic church designs across the United States.

Variants: Variants of the Keely surname include Keeley, O'Keely, Kealy, and O'Kealy.

Modern Distribution: Today, individuals with the surname Keely can be found not only in Ireland but also in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, reflecting the global diaspora of Irish immigrants.

References:

  • MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. Irish Academic Press, 1985.
  • Hanks, Patrick, et al. The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press, 2016.

There are approximately 302 people named Keely in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around five in a million people in Britain are named Keely.

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Ireland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Aidan
  • Alan
  • David
  • James
  • John
  • Kevin
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Patrick
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Stephen
  • Terence

Female

  • Alice
  • Bridget
  • Dorothy
  • Elizabeth
  • Heather
  • Josephine
  • Julie
  • Karen
  • Laura
  • Patricia
  • Rebecca
  • Sarah
  • Susan
  • Sw
  • Wendy

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