Contents [hide]

Donnelly History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Australia New Zealand Canada United States

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Donnelly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Donnelly

What does the name Donnelly mean?

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Donnelly originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Donnghaile, derived from the words "donn," which means "brown," and "gal," which means "valor." 1

Early Origins of the Donnelly family

The surname Donnelly was first found in County Donegal. Later, the sept expanded eastward and became based at Ballydonnelly in the county of Tyrone. The name continues to be common in this area of Ireland today.

The name is believed to be directly descended from King Niall of the Nine Hostages, the great Irish general/king who died by the River Seine in France about 365 A.D., after soundly defeating the Romans and being instrumental in their return to the south. Niall made King Arthur's exploits seem rather small by comparison.

The Donnelly chief was always elected Chief Marshall of the O'Neill forces and their exploits have filled the pages of Irish history compiled by the Four Masters. They are a part of the great Clann Eoghan(Owen).

They claim to be seventeenth in descent from the great King Niall, and their territories were at Ballydonnelly in County Tyrone.

Early History of the Donnelly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donnelly research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1603, 1641, 1650, 1716, 1786, 1816, 1825, 1826 and 1836 are included under the topic Early Donnelly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donnelly Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Donnelly were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Donnely, Donnelly, Donelly, O'Donnelly, O'Donelly, Donnolly, Donnally, Donolly, Donnilly, Donnelie, Donneley, O'Donnally and many more.

Early Notables of the Donnelly family

Patrick Donnelly (1650-1716), an Irish Roman Catholic Bishop, known as The Bard of Armagh, born in Desertcreaght, Cookstown, County Tyrone

Donnelly World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Donnelly is the 305^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,856 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Donnelly is ranked the 414^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,939 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Donnelly is the 577^th popular surname with an estimated 1,231 people with that name. 4 Canada ranks Donnelly as 892^nd with 6,010 people. 5 The United States ranks Donnelly as 1,312^nd with 22,383 people. 6

Donnelly migration to Australia +

Donnelly Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. James Donnelly, English convict who was convicted in Hampshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7

Donnelly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Donnelly, a farrier, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Miss Catherine Donnelly, (b. 1798), aged 28, Irish convict who was convicted in Ireland, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1826 aboard the ship 8
Mr. James Donnelly, (Quinn, Quin), (b. 1775), aged 52, Irish farm labourer who was convicted in County Tyrone, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1829 9
Miss Ann Donnelly who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 31st December 1831, arriving in New South Wales 10
Mr. John Donnelly, (O'Donnell), (b. 1812), aged 19, Irish labourer who was convicted in Antrim, Northern Ireland for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 5th November 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Donnelly migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Donnelly Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Patrick Donnelly, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
William Donnelly, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 12
Eliza Donnelly, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 12
James Donnelly, aged 42, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inchinnan" in 1852 13
Mary Donnelly, aged 30, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inchinnan" in 1852 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Donnelly migration to Canada +

Donnelly Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Patrick Donnelly, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1808
Jane Donnelly, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
Owen Donnelly, aged 33, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
Mary Donnelly, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
Henry Donnelly, aged 6, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Donnelly migration to the United States +

Donnelly Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Peter Donnelly, who landed in America in 1760-1763 14
Bryan, Peter and Thomas Donnelly, who landed in America in 1763

Donnelly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Catherine and Hugh Donnelly who settled in New York in 1803
Terrence Donnelly, who arrived in America in 1810 14
Hugh Donnelly, who landed in America in 1811 14
William Donnelly, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 14
David Donnelly, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Donnelly (post 1700) +

Dervilla Maura Xavier Donnelly (1930-2024), Irish chemist who was Professor of Phytochemistry at University College Dublin
Seán Donnelly (1940-2024), Irish Gaelic footballer for the Longford Slashers (1959-1982), administrator and manager
Ronald Henry Donnelly (1937-2021), known as Har Donnelly, an Irish Gaelic football player
Charles Donnelly (1914-1937), Irish poet and political activist
DeClan Joseph Oliver Donnelly OBE (b. 1975), British television presenter, television producer, former singer, rapper, comedian and actor
Brian Joseph Donnelly (1946-2023), American politician and ambassador, U.S. Representative from Massachusetts (1979-1993), United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago (1994-1997)
George Donnelly (1942-2022), American football player who played defensive back for three seasons for the San Francisco 49ers (1965-1967)
Nicholas Donnelly (1938-2022), British actor, best known for his role as Mr. Craig MacKenzie in the television drama series Grange Hill from 1985 to 1993
Timothy David "Tim" Donnelly (1944-2021), American film and television actor, perhaps best known for playing the role as "Fireman Chet Kelly" in NBC's Emergency!
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Donnelly family +

Halifax Explosion

Miss May Donnelly (1911-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Mrs. Sarah Donnelly (1890-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
Miss Ethel Donnelly (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
Mr. Patrick Donnelly (1898-1917), British Stoker 2nd Class, who was aboard the ship "HMS Vanguard" when she exploded in the Scapa Flow off the Orkney Islands, Scotland on 9th July 1917
Mr. Peter Donnelly, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 16
... (Another 1 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/