Connolly - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Conghalaigh
Meaning: “valiant, brave”
Traditional stronghold: Galway, Monaghan
Pronunciation: KON-uh-lee; Irish O Conghaile: oh KUN-guh-luh
History of the Connolly name
The name is generally derived from elements suggesting 'valorous' or 'fierce', and O'Connolly septs are recorded in Monaghan, Connacht and elsewhere, none dominant enough to give the surname a single clear stronghold. It spread through Ulster and Connacht in particular. The name is most strongly associated in modern history with the labour leader executed for his part in the 1916 Rising, whose Edinburgh-born family had roots in Monaghan, an association that gave Connolly enduring resonance in Irish political memory well beyond its original clan geography.
Variants: Conley · Connelly · O'Connolly
Famous bearers of the name
- James Connolly - Labour leader and 1916 Rising commandant, executed by firing squad
- Sybil Connolly - Waterford-born fashion designer who dressed Jackie Kennedy
- John Connolly - Dublin-born crime novelist, author of the Charlie Parker series
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Kelly · Lynch · Burke · Clarke · Hughes · Duffy · McMahon · Keane