Connoly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

While many Irish names are familiar, their past incarnations are often shrouded in mystery, reflecting the ancient Gaelic heritage of their bearers. The original Gaelic form of the name Connoly is Ó Conghalaigh, Ó Conghaile, or Ó Coingheallaigh. 1

Early Origins of the Connoly family

The surname Connoly was first found in Connacht and Munster, as well as County Monaghan and Leinster. There were three Gaelic septs whose name was Anglicized as Connolly: the O Conghalaigh sept (also known as O Conghaile) who lived in Connacht and the adjacent County Monaghan; the O Coingheallaigh sept, which also used the alias Mac Coingheallaigh, were subordinate to the powerful O'Donovans and dwelled in West Cork in Munster; and another sept, related to the O'Maddens, resided in Connacht and were of the Ui Maine. 2

Early History of the Connoly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Connoly research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1014, 1591, 1660, 1715, 1729, 1738, 1750, 1760, 1803 and 1825 are included under the topic Early Connoly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Connoly Spelling Variations

The scribes who created documents long before either the Gaelic or English language resembled their standardized versions of today recorded words as they sounded. Consequently, in the Middle Ages the names of many people were recorded under different spellings each time they were written down. Research on the Connoly family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Connolly, Conolly, Connally, O'Connolly, Connolley, Conally, Connelly, Conoley, Connaleigh, Connelay, Conley, Conlay, Conlaye and many more.

Early Notables of the Connoly family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was William Connolly (c.1660-1729), Speaker of the House of Commons. He was the son of a publican, or, as some say, of a blacksmith. Having been called to the bar, he soon made way in his profession; but he distinguished himself more particularly in the Irish House of Commons, of which he was chosen speaker 12 Nov. 1715. He continued to hold this post until his resignation through failure of health, 12 Oct...
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Connoly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Connoly migration to the United States +

Suffering from poverty and racial discrimination, thousands of Irish families left the island in the 19th century for North America aboard cramped passenger ships. The early migrants became settlers of small tracts of land, and those that came later were often employed in the new cities or transitional work camps. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Although the immigrants from this period were often maligned when they arrived in the United States, they provided the cheap labor that was necessary for the development of that country as an industrial power. Early immigration and passenger lists have revealed many immigrants bearing the name Connoly:

Connoly Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alice Connoly, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 3
Terrence Connoly, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 3
William Connoly, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 3
Terrance Connoly, who settled in New Jersey in 1773

Connoly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Dr. Connoly, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 3
Rev. Connoly, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 3
Right Rev. Dr. Connoly, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 3
Peter Connoly, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 3
Agnes Connoly, aged 1, who landed in New York in 1849 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Connoly migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Connoly Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Patrick Connoly, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Thomas Hanford" from Cork, Ireland
Michael Connoly, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Thomas Hanford" from Cork, Ireland
Timothy Connoly, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Independence" from Kinsale, Ireland
Mr. Daniel Connoly, aged 30 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sisters" departing 22nd April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 20th June 1847 but he died on board 4

Connoly migration to Australia +

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

Connoly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ann Connoly, aged 23, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 5
Emily Connoly, aged 21, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
Charles Connoly, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"
Edward Connoly, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"
Mary Connoly, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Oriental,"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 70)
South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Flora 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/flora1855.shtml