Surname Rielly - Meaning and Origin
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Rielly: What does the surname Rielly mean?
The surname Rielly is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "Ó Raghallaigh," which means "descendant of Raghallach." The name Raghallach itself is believed to originate from the Gaelic elements "ragh" meaning "race" and "ceallach" meaning "sociable." Thus, the surname can be interpreted as "descendant of the sociable race." The name is common in many English-speaking countries, and there are numerous variant spellings, including Reilly, Riley, and O'Reilly. It is particularly prevalent in counties Cavan and Longford in Ireland. Like many Irish surnames, Rielly carries with it a rich cultural and historical heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisRielly: Where does the name Rielly come from?
The last name Rielly is an Anglicized version of the Irish surname O'Reilly, which originated in County Cavan in the Northwest of Ireland. It was first adopted as a family name by a number of Irish families in the late 1600s. Today, the name Rielly is most commonly found in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.
In the United States, the Rielly surname is fairly widely distributed. It is most popular in the Middle-Atlantic states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Across the pond, the surname has the highest prevalence in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In the United Kingdom, the name is also most commonly found in England.
In Australia, most people with this surname are descended from Irish immigrants who arrived there in the 1800s. These immigrants typically settled in the states of New South Wales and Victoria, and many of their descendants are scattered across the country today.
In addition to its popularity in these countries, the surname Rielly can also be found in parts of Canada, New Zealand, and throughout South America, the Caribbean, and other parts of Europe.
Variations of the surname Rielly
The surname Rielly is a patronymic form of the Irish surname Reilly, which originates from the Olde Gaelic name O'Raghailligh. This name is made up of two parts, the prefix O, which denotes “grandson,” and Raigh, meaning “courageous and valiant.”
The name has various spellings and variants. Common spellings are Rielly, Riley, Reiley, Railey, Reeley, and Reily. These surnames are essentially all the same, just with slight variations in the spelling.
There are some surnames which share a common origin with Rielly, such as O’Reilly, O’Riley, O’Reilly, O’Rally, and O’Raghailligh, which are all based on the same Olde Gaelic name. Different spellings, such as Reilly, Reily, and Realy, may also be derived from O’Raghailligh.
Other surnames which may be connected to Rielly include Reilley, O'Rielly, O’Riely, O’Realy, Dalreily, and Reely. Additionally, the surnames Reilly and Rilie may be derived from the old Scottish name Railey, which is related to Reilly.
In conclusion, the surname Rielly has many variants, spelling variations and surnames of the same origin. Although some of these variants arise from different origins or sources, they all ultimately trace back to the original Olde Gaelic name, O’Raghailligh.
Famous people with the name Rielly
- Steve Rielly: Grammy-nominated filmmaker, producer, and CEO.
- Mike Rielly: former NHL hockey player.
- Malachy Rielly: former Irish Gaelic footballer.
- John Rielly: Irish former footballer.
- David Rielly: English professional cricket player.
- Robert Rielly: actor, known for his roles in Resurrection and Vandal.
- Colleen Rielly: American actress known for her roles in Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
- PJ Rielly: award-winning songwriter and musician.
- Teague Rielly: American contemporary artist and painter.
- Chris Rielly: popular Indian YouTuber and artist.