O'Kinelly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of O'Kinelly

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

Early Origins of the O'Kinelly family

Early History of the O'Kinelly family

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

O'Kinelly Spelling Variations

Names written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname O'Kinelly that are preserved in documents of the family history are 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'Kinelly family

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

Migration of the O'Kinelly family

The English-ruled Ireland of the late 18th and 19th centuries featured a rapidly increasing population and an agricultural-based economy. This combination proved to be disastrous in the 1840s after a couple of failed potato harvests. Thousands died of disease and starvation, and thousands more left the country, often bound for North America. Those that survived the journey to North America were put to work building the bridges, canals, roadways, and railways needed for the development of an industrial society. Those Irish, although often despised by those already established in North American cities and towns, played an instrumental role in making Canada and the United States the powerful and wealthy nations that they are today. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has shown many immigrants bearing the name O'Kinelly: 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.