Show ContentsFrawley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Frawley surname comes from the Irish Gaelic name O Fearghail, which means "a valiant warrior." [1]

Early Origins of the Frawley family

The surname Frawley was first found in Leinster, where they were found mainly in County Longford.

Feargal, Prince of Annaly appears number 105 on the "Line of Ir" descendants. Ir was the fifth son of Milesius of Spain. This Feargal was slain fighting on the aide of Brian Boru at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. However, some writers doubt this claim.

From this progenitor, rose O'Farrell Ban, O'Farrell of Rathline, O'Farrell, the Chiefs of Clanhugh, O'Farrell of Mugh Treagha, O'Farrell of Kenagh and O'Farrell, Chiefs of Clanawley. [1]

Early History of the Frawley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frawley research. Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1235, 1248 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Frawley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frawley Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Frawley family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Ferrell, Farrell, O'Ferrall, O'Farrell, Farrelly, Fraleigh, Frawley, Frahill and many more.

Early Notables of the Frawley family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Jean François Ferrel, a musician in Paris about the middle of the 17th century, wrote a small pamphlet 'A savoir que les maistres de dance, qui sont de vrays maistres larrons à...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Frawley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frawley Ranking

In the United States, the name Frawley is the 7,279th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [2]


United States Frawley migration to the United States +

Ireland saw an enormous decrease in its population in the 19th century due to immigration and death. This pattern of immigration began slowly in the late 18th century and gradually grew throughout the early portion of the 19th century. However, a dramatic increase in the country's immigration numbers occurred when the Great Potato Famine struck in the 1840s. The early immigrants to North America were primarily destined to be farmers tending to their own plot of land, those that came later initially settled within pre-established urban centers. These urban immigrants provided the cheap labor that the fast developing United States and soon to be Canada required. Regardless of their new lifestyle in North America, the Irish immigrants to the United States and Canada made invaluable contributions to their newly adopted societies. An investigation of immigrant and passenger lists revealed many Frawleys:

Frawley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Cornelius Frawley, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1870 [3]
Frawley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Catherine Frawley, aged 14, who landed in America from Limerick, in 1903
  • Catherine Frawley, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Kelchanny, in 1904
  • Ellie Frawley, aged 24, who settled in America from Miltown, Malbay, Ireland, in 1907
  • Bridget Frawley, aged 23, who settled in America from Newcastle West, Ireland, in 1907
  • Cornelius Frawley, aged 24, who landed in America from Castleconnell, Ireland, in 1908
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Frawley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Frawley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Frawley, English convict who was convicted in Devizes, Wiltshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [4]
  • Margaret Frawley, aged 23, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Standard" [5]
  • Bridget Frawley, aged 18, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" [6]
  • Maurice Frawley, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Nugget" [7]

New Zealand Frawley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Frawley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Frawley, aged 24, a sawyer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 [8]
  • Patrick Frawley, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1879
  • Kate Frawley, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Frawley (post 1700) +

  • William H. Frawley, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 1924, 1928, 1932 [9]
  • Thomas F. Frawley, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 1888 [9]
  • Matthew G. Frawley, American politician, Postmaster at Baldwinsville, New York, 1907
  • James J. Frawley (b. 1866), American Democratic Party politician, Plasterer; Builder; Member of New York State Senate 20th District, 1903-14 [9]
  • James Frawley, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Alaska Territorial Senate 2nd District, 1919-22, 1933-36 [9]
  • Geraldine Frawley, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1964 [9]
  • Frank T. Frawley, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Denver, Colorado, 1921-22 (acting, 1921-22) [9]
  • Arthur Joseph Frawley (1898-1984), American politician, Mayor of Lynn, Massachusetts, 1943-45, 1952-55
  • James J. Frawley (1867-1926), New York State Senator
  • David Frawley, American Hindu author
  • ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Frawley Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Cu reabtha
Motto Translation: The rampaging dog.


  1. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray
  5. South Australian Register Friday 14 October 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Standard 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1853.shtml
  6. South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Europa 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml
  7. South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nugget 1858. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/nugget1858.shtml
  8. Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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