Recorded in a number of spellings including Kealy, Kealey, Keeley, Keely, Keiley, this is a surname of Irish or sometimes English, origins, and it is usually without a full genealogical study to decide which is which. If Irish, although often confused with the much more common Kelly, it in fact had a totally separate origin, being derived from the ancient medieval Gaelic name O' Caollaidhe, meaning the male descendant of the slim one! As to whom the 'slim one' was is unclear, but the majority of Gaelic surnames descend from a nickname for the original chief of the clan perhaps in the 13th century or earlier.
However both in Ireland and England the name can also be a variant of the place name and surname Keighley, and hence is locational from the town of that name in the county of West Yorkshire. Keighley means the farm of Cyhha, a personal name of pre 7th century origins and uncertain meaning. Amongst the surname recordings is the christening of Henry, the son of Thomas and Thomasina Keely, on April 1st 1798 at the church of St. Clement Danes, Westminster, whilst in Ireland where most early records were destroyed by the IRA in 1922, we have that of William Keely, whose daughter Biddy, was christened at Tuam, County Galway, on June 30th 1864. One of the earliest recordings anywhere is that of Martha Keely. She was christened on June 11th 1563, at St. Peter's Cornhill, in the city of London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname kealy, and in addition to the original locations of kealy, we can find out where people with the surname kealy can currently be found.
The mobility of people carrying the surname kealy has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname kealy are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.
Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname kealy or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of kealy.
A surname like kealy can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname kealy who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname kealy, as well as many other surnames.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of kealy, and at the same time, of surnames in general.