The original Gaelic form of MacNeely was Mac an Fhailghigh, which is derived from the word failgheach, which means poor man.
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Early Origins of the MacNeely family
The surname MacNeely was first found in counties Armagh and Monaghan (Irish: Muineachán) located in the Northern part of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
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Early History of the MacNeely family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacNeely research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1120, 1653, 1680 and 1697 are included under the topic Early MacNeely History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
MacNeely Spelling Variations
People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname MacNeely that are preserved in archival documents are McNally, McAnully, McAnalley, McAnally and others.
Early Notables of the MacNeely family
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacNeely Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the MacNeely family
Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name MacNeely to North America: Bernard, Biddy, Charles, George, Henry John, Michal, Patrick, Thomas and William McNally all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; Daniel, Francis and Patrick McAnully all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.
Ireland
