Ó Ceallaigh

Ó Ceallaigh.

Ó Ceallaigh is the original Irish gaelic name for the surname commonly known as Kelly. It is a name meaning "Descendant of Ceallach," "bright haired," or "troublesome"

Many members of the Ó Ceallaigh clan are directly descended from the Kings of Uí Maine, commonly known as O'Kelly country.

Counties associated with the name are Armagh, Carlow, Clare, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Londonderry, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wicklow.

Interesting Kelly Facts:

1. It's the second most common name in Ireland, behind Murphy.
2. There are more Kellys in the US and in Britain respectively than in Ireland.
3. Australian sailors whose surnames are Kelly are nicknamed "Ned" after the famed outlaw.
4. It is not only in the top 100 surnames in the US, but also in the top 100 first names.

The name is popular because it originates from at least seven different and unrelated ancient clans or septs. These include O'Kelly septs from Meath, Londonderry, Antrim, Laois, Sligo, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Galway and Roscommon, and the McKelly sept from East Connaught.

One of the major septs is the O'Kellys of Ui Maine, or Hy Many, a territory in East Galway and South Roscommon. O'Kelly derives from the Gaelic O Ceallaigh, meaning "descended from Ceallach." Ceallach was the son of Finnachta, a chief of the Hy Many people around A.D. 874. Another of their chieftains, Tadgh Mr " Ceallaigh, was killed at the famous battle of Clontarf in 1014, when Brian Boru defeated the Vikings.

Ceallach means war or contention. It is an ancient first name that is no longer used as a first name in Ireland. However, Kelly is a popular first name for women in the U.S. - an ironic reversion of the family name back to its original use. The earliest parts of the O'Kelly genealogy are contained in the Book of Hy Many, which was written in the 14th century. Its compilation was the idea of William O'Kelly, a chief of Hy Many. The book is now kept in the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin.

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