Irish America

Irish America

Surnames

Roots: Gilhooly, Gilmartin, Gillespie, and Gilfoyle

By James G. Ryan

January February 1993

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A significant number of Irish names have the prefix "Gil" or "Guil," including Gilchrist, Gildea, Gilhooly, Gilmartin, Gillespie, Gilfoyle, Gilleece, (Mac) Gillicuddy, Gilpatrick, Gilroy (now McElroy), Gilsenan and Gilvarry. These names were all originally prefixed by Mc and are all based on the Gaelic word Giolla which means a youth, attendant, servant or follower. The usual … [Read more...] about Roots: Gilhooly, Gilmartin, Gillespie, and Gilfoyle

Irish Roots: O’Connell, Connolly, Conlon and Connellan

James G Ryan

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The name Connolly is derived from several different roots. In Connaught and Monaghan it derives from the Gaelic O'Coingeallaigh. Both are anglicized to Connolly although the spelling form Connelly is often found in Galway. There have been several famous bearers of the name. In the early 18th century William Connolly (1660-1729) was an eminent lawyer and politician. His family … [Read more...] about Irish Roots: O’Connell, Connolly, Conlon and Connellan

Roots: The Connolly Family

By James G. Ryan

August / September 1999

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The Connolly family are an ancient sept of Ireland's western province of Connacht. The Gaelic form of the name is O'Conghaile. The original sept dispersed and in time three separate families developed based in Cork, Meath and Monaghan. However, the name is mainly found in Monaghan and in its native Connaught where it is sometimes spelled Connelly. There is also an unrelated … [Read more...] about Roots: The Connolly Family

Roots: The Kavanaghs

By James G. Ryan

May / June 1998

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Unlike most of the families covered in this column, the origin of the Kavanaghs or Cavanaghs can be traced back to one specific person. This was Donal, the son of Dermot McMorrough, a twelfth-century king of Leinster. This Dermot has an infamous place in Irish history since it was through his invitation that the Normans first came to Ireland, in 1169 AD. Dermot's son, Donal, … [Read more...] about Roots: The Kavanaghs

Roots: Walsh, Welsh (or Brannagh)

By James G. Ryan

November/December 1996

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The name Walsh or Welsh is one of the most numerous of Norman associated names found in Ireland. It seems to have been the name used independently by the many different groups of Welsh people who arrived in Ireland with the Normans during the 12th century. The name simply means Welshman and its early Norman form was "Le Waleys" but this became gradually anglicized to Walsh. The … [Read more...] about Roots: Walsh, Welsh (or Brannagh)