Show ContentsKinneally History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

All Irish surnames have a long, ancient Gaelic history behind them. The original Gaelic form of the name Kinneally is Ó Cinnfhaolaidh, which is derived from "ceann," which means "head," and "faol," which means "wolf." 1

Early Origins of the Kinneally family

The surname Kinneally was first found in Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat as chiefs in the barony of Connello, from olden times up to the 12th century when they were dispersed by the Anglo Norman invasion by Strongbow, the Earl of Pembroke in 1172.

Early History of the Kinneally family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kinneally research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1800 is included under the topic Early Kinneally History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kinneally Spelling Variations

The search for the origins of the name Kinneally family name revealed numerous spelling variations. These variants can be somewhat accounted for when it is realized that before widespread literacy people only recognized their name by pronunciation; it was up to scribes to decide how it was to be formally recorded. Variations found include Kinneally, Kinealy, Kinnelly, Kinnelley, Kinneley, Kinelly, Kinelley, Kenealy, O'Kinnealy, O'Kinnelly, O'Kinelly, O'Kinneley, O'Kennelly, O'Kenelly, Kennelly, Kenelly, Kennealy, Keneally, O'Kennealy, O'Kenneally, Quinelly, O'Quinelly, O'Quinelley, Kenneallagh, Keneallagh, Kenealagh, O'Kenealagh, O'Kenealagh, Kinneary, Kineary, O'Kinneary and many more.

Early Notables of the Kinneally family

More information is included under the topic Early Kinneally Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kinneally family

The 18th century saw the slow yet steady emigration of Irish families to British North America and the United States. Those early Irish settlers that left their homeland were typically moderately well off: they were enticed by the promise of a sizable plot of land. However, by the 1840s, this pattern of immigration was gone: immigrants to North America were seeking refuge from the starvation and disease that the Great Potato Famine of that decade brought. The great numbers of Irish that arrived to the United States and the soon to be Canada were instrumental in their quick development as powerful industrial nations. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists uncovered many early immigrants bearing the name Kinneally: Michael Kinneary arrived in Philadelphia in 1873; John Kennelly arrived in Virginia 1774; John Kennelly arrived in Quebec in 1825 and later moved to Lindsay, Ontario. Patrick and Mary Kennelly arrived in Boston Mass in 1849.


Contemporary Notables of the name Kinneally (post 1700) +

  • John J. Kinneally, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York, 1898, 1900, 1904; Socialist Labor Candidate for Mayor of New York City, New York, 1905 2
  • James J. Kinneally (d. 1972), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1944, 1948, 1956, 1960, 1964; Chair of Union County Democratic Party, 1959 2
  • Gertrude A. Kinneally, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1940 2


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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