Kennealy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Kennealy

What does the name Kennealy mean?

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

Early Origins of the Kennealy family

The surname Kennealy 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 Kennealy family

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

Kennealy Spelling Variations

The search for the origins of the name Kennealy 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 Kennealy family

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

Kennealy migration to Australia +

Kennealy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Kennealy, (b. 1809), aged 23, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 10th May 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
Patrick Kennealy, aged 50, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Marshall Bennett" 3
Michael Kennealy, aged 37, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Marshall Bennett" 3
Margaret Kennealy, aged 28, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Marshall Bennett" 3
Timothy Kennealy (aged 28), a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Aurora"

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
South Australian Register Friday 29 April 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Marshall Bennett 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/marshallbennett1853.shtml