Kiely — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Cadhla
Meaning: 'descendant of Cadhla (graceful, comely)'
Traditional stronghold: Limerick, Waterford
Pronunciation: KY-lee; Irish Ó Cadhla: oh KY-la
History of the Kiely name
Ó Cadhla derives from cadhla, meaning graceful or beautiful. The name belongs to Munster, where it has long been concentrated in Waterford, Limerick and Tipperary, and it was variously anglicised Kiely, Keily, Keely and, especially in Waterford, Queally; Malachias Ó Cadhla, or Queally, was Archbishop of Tuam in the Confederate era. A separate Connacht sept of the same Irish name was seated in Connemara in early times. The Kielys have a proud sporting tradition: Tom Kiely of Tipperary won the all-around championship, forerunner of the decathlon, at the 1904 Olympics, competing as an Irishman years before Irish independence.
Variants: Keily · Keely · Queally
Famous bearers of the name
- Tom Kiely — Tipperary athlete who won the all-around title at the 1904 St Louis Olympics.
- Benedict Kiely — Omagh-born novelist, short-story master and beloved broadcaster.
- John Kiely — Manager who led Limerick to a modern dynasty of All-Ireland hurling titles.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Brien · Ryan · Walsh · Collins · Fitzgerald · Power · Whelan · Hayes