O'Kenealy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of O'Kenealy

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

Early Origins of the O'Kenealy family

Early History of the O'Kenealy family

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

O'Kenealy Spelling Variations

The archives that survive today demonstrate the difficulty experienced by the scribes of the Middle Ages in their attempt to record these names in writing. Spelling variations of the name O'Kenealy dating from that time 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 O'Kenealy family

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

Migration of the O'Kenealy family

A massive wave of Irish immigrants hit North America during the 19th century. Although many early Irish immigrants made a carefully planned decision to leave left Ireland for the promise of free land, by the 1840s immigrants were fleeing a famine stricken land in desperation. The condition of Ireland during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s can be attributed to a rapidly expanding population and English imperial policies. Those Irish families that arrived in North America were essential to its rapid social, industrial, and economic development. Passenger and immigration lists have revealed a number of early Irish immigrants bearing the name O'Kenealy: 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.