Kelegher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Kelegher

What does the name Kelegher mean?

Irish surnames are linked to the long Gaelic heritage of the Island nation. The original Gaelic form of the name Kelegher is "O Ceileachair," which means "companion dear." 1 Another source claims the name means "wise, prudent." (O'Hart)

Early Origins of the Kelegher family

The surname Kelegher was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. They "derive their sirname from Ceileachar, son of Donchuan, brother of Brian Borimhe [Boru], the 175th Monarch of Ireland. In the twelfth and even so late as the sixteenth century, the O'Kellehers were possessed of lands in Munster; but the pedigree of the family is, we fear, lost." (O'Hart) The oldest record of the family was of Donogh O'Kelleher, successor of St. Kieren of Siager (Bishop of Ossory) who died in 1048. MacLysaght noted that the family left their original habitat in County Clare in the 14th century and moved to County Cork. 2

Early History of the Kelegher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kelegher research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1014 is included under the topic Early Kelegher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelegher Spelling Variations

Irish names recorded during the Middle Ages are characterized by many spelling variations. This preponderance of variations for common names can be explained by the fact that the scribes and church officials that kept records during that period individually decided how to capture one's name. These recorders primarily based their decisions on how the name was pronounced or what it meant. Research into the name Kelegher revealed many variations, including Kelleher, O'Kelleher, Kellehar, Kellegher and others.

Early Notables of the Kelegher family

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

Migration of the Kelegher family

A great wave of Irish migration occurred during the 19th century as a direct result of English colonial rule and tight-fisted absentee landlords. Many of these Irish immigrants boarded passenger ships bound for North America. Those who migrated early enough were given land in either British North America or the United States; those who came in the late 19th century were typically employed in industrial centers as laborers. At whatever age they undertook the dangerous passage to North America, those Irish immigrants were essential to the speedy development of the two infant nations to which they arrived, whether they broke and settled land, helped build canals, bridges, and railroads, or produced products for consumer consumption. An examination of immigration and passenger lists has uncovered a large number of immigrants bearing the name Kelegher or one of its variants: Patrick Kellegher, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1850; Cornelius, John and Patrick Kellehar settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1855 and 1878.

Sources +

Grehan, Ida, The Dictionary of Irish Family Names. Boulder: Roberts Rinehart Publications, 1997. Print. (ISBN 1-57098-137-X)
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)