Donnelly is an Irish surname. Also used as: O’Donnelly or Donley. It is derived from the Gaelic Ó Donnghaile meaning 'descendant of Donnghal',[1] a given name composed of the elements donn ('dark, brown') and gal ('valour').[2] O'Donnelly was historically of the Northern Uí Néill's Cenél nEoghain, descended from Donnghal,[3] the great-grandson of Domhnall, King of Ailech.[4][5]
It is most commonly found in Ulster, especially in County Tyrone and in parts of County Donegal.[6][7] Donnelly is also prevalent in Connacht, particularly in County Galway.[6]
The stronghold of the O'Donnelly family sept was Castlecaulfield was formerly known as Ballydonnelly (Irish: Baile Uí Dhonnaíle, meaning 'town or territory of O'Donnelly') a village in the south-east of County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.
- ^ "Last name: Donnelly". The Internet Surname Database.
- ^ Norman, Tess (2003). A World of Baby Names. Penguin. p. 286. ISBN 9780399528941.
- ^ The most accurate source for the pedigree of Donnghaile (Donnelly) can be found in O’Cleary, Michael, et al., Annals of the Four Masters, see O‘Donovan's edition [1] Volume 6, page 2426. Other Irish genealogies (Book of Ballymote and Book of Lecan) have the line of descent of Donnghaile incorrectly stated as the great-grandson of Domnall Ilchelgach, High King who died in 561 A.D.
- ^ Neafsey, Edward (2002). The Surnames of Ireland: Origins and Numbers of Selected Irish Surnames. Irish Genealogical Foundation. ISBN 978-0-940134-97-3.
- ^ King Domhnall served as co-ruler of Cenél nEoghain from about 896 A.D. with his paternal half brother Niall Glundub until 911 A.D. when King Domhnall abdicated to “enter religious life” and subsequently died in 915 A.D.[2] Hudson, Benjamin, Prophecy of Berchan,Irish and Scottish High Kings in the Middle Ages, Greenwood Press 1996 page 148.
- ^ a b Kenny, Kevin (1998). Making Sense of the Molly Maguires. Oxford University Press. p. 300. ISBN 9780195116311.
- ^ Woulfe, Patrick (1923). "Ó Donnghaile - Irish Names and Surnames". www.libraryireland.com. Retrieved 30 May 2023.