Show ContentsCronelly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Cronelly family

The surname Cronelly was first found in Ulster (Irish: Ulaidh), where they held a family seat but were also to be found in County Offaly and Galway. The sept is styled the Princes of Crich Cualgne and are descended from Cu-Ulladh, a Prince in 576. Descended was Cronghall, in 935, Lord of Conaille, the first to style himself O'Connelly. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable.

One of the first records of the family was Thomas Cranley (1337?-1417), Archbishop of Dublin, who studied at Oxford. In 1390, he was Chancellor of the university. "Besides being archbishop, Cranley was Chancellor of Ireland under Henry IV, and Lord Justice under Henry V." 1

Early History of the Cronelly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cronelly research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1340, 1379, 1397, 1401, 1410, 1417, 1635 and 1651 are included under the topic Early Cronelly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cronelly Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cronnelly, Cronnely, Cronelly, O'Cronnelly, Cronley, Cronlay, O'Cronley, Cranley, Cranelly, O'Cranelly, Cranlie and many more.

Early Notables of the Cronelly family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Thomas Cranley DD a.k.a. Thomas Craule ( c.1340-1417) English statesman, judge and cleric who held the offices of Chancellor of Oxford University, Archbishop of Dublin (1379-1401) and Lord Chancellor...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cronelly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cronelly family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Jon Cranell, who arrived in Virginia in 1637; Francis Cranly, who arrived in Virginia in 1663; Wm. Cronley, who came to Virginia sometime between 1671 and 1672.



  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook