O'Connell - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Conaill
Meaning: “strong as a wolf”
Traditional stronghold: Kerry
Pronunciation: oh-KON-el; Irish O Conaill: oh KUN-il
History of the O'Connell name
The O'Connells derive from Conall, an old personal name, and were long established in the Iveragh peninsula of south Kerry, a rugged coastal territory that kept the family relatively insulated from the worst of the plantations. It was from this Kerry Catholic gentry background that Daniel O'Connell, 'the Liberator', emerged in the late 18th century to lead the successful campaign for Catholic Emancipation and later the failed Repeal movement, becoming the most influential Irish political figure of the 19th century and giving the surname lasting national prominence.
Variants: Connell · O'Conaill · Connall
Famous bearers of the name
- Daniel O'Connell - Kerry-born campaigner for Catholic Emancipation, known as the Liberator
- William Henry O'Connell - Irish-American Cardinal Archbishop of Boston
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Sullivan · O'Connor · McCarthy · Fitzgerald · O'Shea · Griffin · Kelleher · Stack