Language & meaning
Meaning & Irish forms
Gaelic Gaelic Irish: chiefly a Cenél nEógain family of Tyrone related to the O'Neills, with smaller unrelated families of the name in Sligo, Cork, Tipperary and Galway.[1][2][3]
The name is built on the personal name Donnghal, usually explained as “brown valour”. Woulfe glosses Donnghal as 'brown-valour'. Wikipedia breaks it into donn, 'dark' or 'brown', and gal, 'valour'.[1][3][7]
Pronunciation
Donnelly: DON-uh-lee
Place
Where the Donnellys lived
How common the name was in each county, as a share of the population, in the three surviving full censuses of Ireland. Use the buttons to compare years.
Share of each county's census population. 1926 covers the 26 counties of the Irish Free State only.
Highest concentration · 1901
Tyrone
114 per 10,000
1,723 Donnellys · 5.71× the national share
Highest share, 1901
Per 10,000 residents. A concentration index above 1 means the name was commoner there than nationally.
Highest concentration · 1911
Tyrone
111 per 10,000
1,583 Donnellys · 5.63× the national share
Highest share, 1911
Per 10,000 residents. A concentration index above 1 means the name was commoner there than nationally.
County figures as a table
| County | 1901 | 1911 | 1926 | Per 10k 1901 | Per 10k 1911 | Per 10k 1926 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim | 968 | 1,039 | — | 21 | 22 | — |
| Armagh | 913 | 855 | — | 73 | 72 | — |
| Carlow | 40 | 33 | 32 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Cavan | 116 | 98 | 121 | 12 | 11 | 15 |
| Clare | 90 | 90 | 70 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| Cork | 130 | 111 | 126 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Donegal | 52 | 58 | 60 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Down | 346 | 375 | — | 12 | 12 | — |
| Dublin | 1,117 | 1,092 | 1,231 | 25 | 23 | 25 |
| Fermanagh | 150 | 164 | — | 23 | 27 | — |
| Galway | 197 | 181 | 118 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Kerry | 242 | 236 | 195 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
| Kildare | 147 | 144 | 189 | 24 | 22 | 33 |
| Kilkenny | 70 | 56 | 65 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Laois | 69 | 78 | 56 | 12 | 14 | 11 |
| Leitrim | 160 | 158 | 132 | 23 | 25 | 23 |
| Limerick | 60 | 68 | 47 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Londonderry | 459 | 456 | — | 32 | 33 | — |
| Longford | 172 | 176 | 120 | 37 | 40 | 30 |
| Louth | 290 | 247 | 282 | 45 | 39 | 45 |
| Mayo | 210 | 201 | 177 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| Meath | 134 | 132 | 145 | 19 | 20 | 23 |
| Monaghan | 143 | 141 | 180 | 19 | 20 | 28 |
| Offaly | 112 | 83 | 84 | 19 | 15 | 16 |
| Roscommon | 213 | 172 | 171 | 21 | 18 | 21 |
| Sligo | 25 | 18 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Tipperary | 61 | 96 | 101 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Tyrone | 1,723 | 1,583 | — | 114 | 111 | — |
| Waterford | 102 | 115 | 120 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Westmeath | 90 | 83 | 106 | 15 | 14 | 19 |
| Wexford | 164 | 200 | 199 | 16 | 20 | 21 |
| Wicklow | 107 | 109 | 108 | 18 | 18 | 19 |
Local strongholds in 1911
District Electoral Divisions (300+ residents) where Donnellys made up the largest share of the population. In Abbeyville, Co. Galway, about one resident in 11 was a Donnelly.
| DED | County | Donnellys | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeyville | Galway | 49 | 9.2% |
| Lackan | Roscommon | 35 | 7.8% |
| Ballymartin | Armagh | 55 | 6.2% |
| Charlemont | Armagh | 61 | 4.8% |
| Beragh | Tyrone | 58 | 4.8% |
| Clonavaddy | Tyrone | 45 | 4.8% |
| Darrynane | Kerry | 38 | 4.6% |
| Athenree | Tyrone | 46 | 4.3% |
Origins
Septs & territories
Many Irish surnames were adopted independently by unrelated families. These are the distinct Donnelly lineages described in the sources.
A surname can point you towards a place. On its own, it cannot establish a pedigree.
Ó Donnghaile of Cenél nEógain
first Druim Lighean (Drumleen) near Lifford, later Ballydonnelly, now Castlecaulfield, west of Dungannon · Tyrone, Donegal
The leading Donnelly family, descended from Donnghal, a descendant of Domhnall, king of Aileach and brother of Niall Glúndub. Woulfe says they were first seated at Drumleen in Donegal but were driven out by the Cenél Conaill and resettled at Ballydonnelly in Tyrone. They were hereditary marshals of O'Neill's forces and fostered the children of The O'Neill.[1][3][5]
Ó Donnghaile of Uí Fiachrach
Dún Uí Chobhthaigh (Doonycoy), parish of Templeboy · Sligo
A Sligo family belonging to the Uí Fiachrach, which Woulfe places at Doonycoy in Templeboy parish. He records no further history.[1]
Ó Donnghaile of Corca Laoighdhe
near Dunmanway · Cork
A west Cork family, a branch of the Corca Laoighdhe, seated near Dunmanway according to Woulfe.[1]
Ó Donnghalaigh of Muscraighe Thíre
Muscraighe Thíre, now the barony of Ormond Lower · Tipperary
Woulfe says this family were early chiefs of Muscraighe Thíre in north Tipperary but vanish from the record towards the end of the 11th century. Their surname is Ó Donnghalaigh, distinct in Irish from Ó Donnghaile but anglicised the same way.[2][8]
Ó Donnghalaigh of Síol Anmchadha
Síol Anmchadha · Galway
A branch of the Síol Anmchadha, the O'Madden people, that Woulfe found numerous in Galway at the start of the 17th century.[2]
The name over time
History
Kin of the O'Neills
The Ulster Donnellys belonged to the Cenél nEógain, the branch of the Northern Uí Néill that also produced the O'Neills. Woulfe traces them to Donnghal, a descendant in the fourth generation of Domhnall, king of Aileach, whose brother Niall Glúndub was the ancestor from whom the O'Neills take their name. Wikipedia describes Donnghal as a great-grandson of Domhnall. Either way, the family claimed close kinship with the ruling house of Tír Eoghain, and that tie shaped its fortunes for centuries.[1][3][9]
From Drumleen to Ballydonnelly
Woulfe says the O'Donnellys first lived at Druim Lighean, now Drumleen, a little north of Lifford in Co. Donegal. They were pushed out by the Cenél Conaill, the O'Donnells' kindred, and moved east into Tyrone, settling at the place that took their name: Baile Uí Dhonnaíle, 'O'Donnelly's town', anglicised Ballydonnelly. It lies in the barony of Dungannon Middle, about two miles west of Dungannon, and is now the village of Castlecaulfield.[1][5]
Marshals and foster-fathers
The O'Donnellys served as hereditary marshals of O'Neill's army and were responsible for fostering the children of The O'Neill. Shane O'Neill was among those raised at Ballydonnelly. The Annals of the Four Masters show how dangerous the role could be: in 1531 Niall Óg O'Neill attacked the town, pulled down its castle and carried off O'Neill's son, Donnelly's foster-son, with horses and plunder. In Shane's time a churchman of the family, Dean Terence Danyell (Turlough O'Donnelly) of Armagh, carried messages between Shane and Elizabeth I.[1][3][5]
Kinsale and the Plantation
The family stayed with the O'Neills to the end of Gaelic Ulster. Woulfe records that Donnell O'Donnelly marched with Hugh O'Neill to Kinsale as captain of a hundred men and fell there with all of them. After the Nine Years' War, Ballydonnelly was given as a servitor's grant to Sir Toby Caulfeild, who had fought for the Crown and whose descendants became Earls of Charlemont. Between 1611 and 1619 he built Castle Caulfield there in the style of an English manor house. The Donnellys joined the rising of 1641, when the house was badly burnt.[1][5][3]
A bishop in hiding
One of the best-remembered Donnellys of the penal era was Patrick Donnelly, born at Desertcreaght near Cookstown in 1650. Wikipedia says his great-grandfather Donall Gruama Ó Donnghaile belonged to the clan in its days of close alliance with the O'Neills. Educated in Drogheda and at the Irish College in Paris, he became Bishop of Dromore in 1697 and ministered as a fugitive, using the name Phelim Brady, the 'Bard of Armagh'. His brother Terence was Bishop of Derry, and the poet Eoghan Ó Donnghaile, a kinsman, may have written a verse salutation to him.[10]
Donnellys beyond Tyrone
Not every Donnelly descends from the Tyrone family. Woulfe lists separate families of Ó Donnghaile in Sligo, a branch of the Uí Fiachrach at Doonycoy, and in Cork, a branch of the Corca Laoighdhe near Dunmanway. A different surname, Ó Donnghalaigh, belonged to early chiefs of Muscraighe Thíre in north Tipperary and to a Galway branch of the Síol Anmchadha. Because all these names ended up spelt Donnelly in English, a family's county is often the best clue to which line it belongs to.[1][2]
Places linked to the name
- Castlecaulfield (Ballydonnelly) (Baile Uí Dhonnaíle), Co. Tyrone — The O'Donnelly stronghold west of Dungannon, granted to Sir Toby Caulfeild at the Plantation and renamed after him.[5][1]
- Drumleen (Druim Lighean), Co. Donegal — The family's earliest seat, just north of Lifford, before the Cenél Conaill drove them out.[1]
- Doonycoy (Dún Uí Chobhthaigh), Co. Sligo — Seat of the Uí Fiachrach Donnellys, in Templeboy parish.[1]
- Dunmanway, Co. Cork — Area where the Corca Laoighdhe branch of the name was seated.[1]
- Ormond Lower (Muscraighe Thíre) (Urumhain Íochtarach), Co. Tipperary — Barony matching the old túath of Muscraighe Thíre, ruled early on by the Ó Donnghalaigh family.[2][8]
Everyday lives
The Donnellys in the census
Who the Donnellys were in the 1901 and 1911 censuses (and 1926 where recorded), set against everyone in Ireland in the same census.
Donnellys All of Ireland Ireland's figure marked on the Donnelly bar
Religion, 1911
Irish language
43 Donnellys spoke Irish only in 1901.
Reading & writing
Family life, 1911
Commonest occupations
Adults aged 15+, 1901 and 1911 combined.
| Farmer | 1,748 |
| Farmer's son | 629 |
| Farmer's daughter | 392 |
| General labourer | 341 |
| Agricultural labourer | 272 |
| Labourer | 247 |
| House keeper | 216 |
| Farm servant | 211 |
| Farm labourer | 192 |
| Housekeeper | 155 |
Born outside Ireland
3.4% of Donnellys in 1911 gave a birthplace outside Ireland.
| England | 181 |
| Scotland | 71 |
| United States | 31 |
| India | 3 |
| Wales | 1 |
Median age: 25 in 1901, 26 in 1911.
Given names
First names among the Donnellys
Men and boys
- John1,510
- Patrick1,248
- James1,175
- Michael727
- Thomas656
- William416
- Joseph367
- Peter346
- Edward276
- Francis262
Women and girls
- Mary1,736
- Bridget728
- Margaret602
- Catherine494
- Ellen448
- Annie427
- Sarah356
- Elizabeth331
- Anne288
- Maggie269
All three censuses combined. Top five in 1926: John, Patrick, James, Michael, Thomas; Mary, Bridget, Margaret, Annie, Ellen.
Spellings
Spellings
This page combines the spellings below, which census enumerators and families used for the same name.
| Spelling | 1901 | 1911 | 1926 | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donnelly | 8,872 | 8,648 | 4,260 | Search |
Related forms
Diaspora
The Donnellys abroad
Emigration carried the name worldwide. In the 2010 United States census:
| Spelling | People | US rank |
|---|---|---|
| Donnelly | 31,505 | 1114th |
Source: US Census Bureau, 2010 surname file (public domain).
Heraldry
Is there a Donnelly coat of arms?
Arms belonged to particular families, so there is no single Donnelly crest. Burke's General Armory describes the Donnellys of Ballydonnelly as an old family of the O'Neill line and records arms confirmed to Thomas Donnelly, son of John Donnelly of Blackwater Town, Co. Armagh: two red lions supporting a red hand, three red stars and a salmon in the sea, with the motto 'Lamh dearg Eirin' ('red hand of Ireland'). Burke gives a naval version to Vice-Admiral Sir Ross Donnelly, and plain arms of three silver fleurs-de-lis on black for Donnelly in Ireland.[11]
Websites selling a single “Donnelly family crest” are selling a design, not an inheritance. Arms in Ireland belonged to individuals and their heirs, and the Chief Herald of Ireland still grants arms that way today.
People
Notable people named Donnelly
- Patrick Donnelly (1650–1716) Bishop of Dromore in the penal era, who lived as a fugitive under the name Phelim Brady.
- Sir Ross Donnelly (1764–1840) Irish Royal Navy admiral who took command of HMS Montagu at the Glorious First of June.
- Dan Donnelly (1788–1820) Bare-knuckle boxer and the first Irish-born heavyweight champion.
- Ignatius L. Donnelly (1831–1901) Minnesota congressman and populist writer, known for speculative books on Atlantis.
- Phil M. Donnelly (1891–1961) Democratic politician who served two separate terms as governor of Missouri.
- Ruth Donnelly (1896–1982) American film and stage actress.
- Charles Donnelly (1914–1937) Irish poet and left-wing republican activist killed fighting in the Spanish Civil War.
- Donal Donnelly (1931–2010) Irish stage and film actor celebrated for his work in the plays of Brian Friel.
- Joe Donnelly (born 1955) Indiana congressman and US senator from 2013 to 2019, later a US ambassador.
- Jennifer Donnelly (born 1963) American novelist whose A Gathering Light won the Carnegie Medal in 2003.
- Declan Donnelly (born 1975) English television presenter and producer, one half of the duo Ant & Dec.
- Laura Donnelly (born 1982) Northern Irish actress known for Jez Butterworth's plays, including The Ferryman.
Questions
Questions about the Donnelly name
Is Donnelly an Irish surname?
Yes. Donnelly is the English form of the Gaelic Ó Donnghaile, 'descendant of Donnghal'. Its best-known family belonged to the Cenél nEógain of Tyrone, were kin to the O'Neills and lived at Ballydonnelly, now Castlecaulfield. Woulfe also records smaller families of the name in Sligo and Cork, and a different surname, Ó Donnghalaigh, in Tipperary and Galway.[1][2][3]
What is Donnelly in Irish?
The Irish form is Ó Donnghaile, 'descendant of Donnghal', from a personal name meaning 'brown valour'. The Irish name of Castlecaulfield, Baile Uí Dhonnaíle ('O'Donnelly's town'), shows the name in a modern spelling, and Woulfe also notes the older spelling Ó Dúnghaile.[1][4][5][6]
Are Donnelly and O'Donnell the same name?
No. Donnelly is Ó Donnghaile, a Cenél nEógain family of Tyrone allied to the O'Neills. The O'Donnells were the leading family of the rival Cenél Conaill, whose kingdom was Tír Conaill in Donegal. Woulfe even records that the Cenél Conaill drove the Donnellys out of their first home near Lifford. Donnellan is another separate name, belonging to the Uí Mhaine.[1][3][12]
Where does the Donnelly name come from?
The main Donnelly family came from Cenél nEógain territory in west Ulster. Woulfe says they began at Drumleen near Lifford in Co. Donegal and later settled at Ballydonnelly, near Dungannon in Co. Tyrone, which became Castlecaulfield after the Plantation. Wikipedia notes the surname is still most common in Ulster, especially Tyrone.[1][3][5]
Is there a Donnelly family crest or coat of arms?
There is no single crest for all Donnellys. Burke's General Armory records arms for the Donnellys of Ballydonnelly, confirmed to a family of Blackwater Town, Co. Armagh, showing two lions holding a red hand, with the motto 'Lamh dearg Eirin'. The red hand reflects their claimed descent from the O'Neills. Burke also lists other Donnelly arms, each belonging to a particular family.[11]
Where in Ireland is the Donnelly surname most common?
In the 1911 census the largest numbers of Donnellys lived in Tyrone (1,583), Dublin (1,092), Antrim (1,039). Relative to population, the name was most concentrated in Tyrone (111 per 10,000), Armagh (72 per 10,000), Longford (40 per 10,000).
How common was the Donnelly surname in Ireland?
8,648 people were recorded as Donnelly in the 1911 census of Ireland, making it the 74th most common surname. That is roughly 0.2% of the population, or 1 person in 508.
Looking for a Donnelly ancestor?
Search every Donnelly household in the 1901, 1911 and 1926 censuses, with free images of the original forms.
Evidence
Sources
- Patrick Woulfe, Ó Donnghaile, in Irish Names and Surnames (1923)
- Patrick Woulfe, Ó Donnghalaigh, in Irish Names and Surnames (1923)
- Wikipedia, Donnelly (surname) (2026)
- Gaois research group, Dublin City University, Sloinnte: Irish surname data (version 2) (2022). Cluster 'Donnghal': Ó Donnghaile; Donnelly.
- Wikipedia, Castlecaulfield (2026)
- Patrick Woulfe, Ó Dúnghaile, in Irish Names and Surnames (1923)
- Wiktionary, Donnelly (2026)
- Wikipedia, Ormond Lower (2026)
- Wikipedia, Niall Glúndub (2026)
- Wikipedia, Patrick Donnelly (bishop) (2026)
- Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales (1884). Entries 'Donnelly, or Donelly (Ireland)', 'Donnelly (Bally Donnelly, co. Tyrone)' and 'O'Donnelly'.
- Wikipedia, Cenél Conaill (2026)
- Census of Ireland 1901 and 1911, and Census of Population 1926, National Archives of Ireland. Counts compiled by surnames.ie from the irishcensus.com transcription (dataset 20260831130351). 1926 data © National Archives of Ireland, CC BY 4.0.
How we compile these figures: methodology.