Surname Kinsalagh - Meaning and Origin
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Kinsalagh: What does the surname Kinsalagh mean?
The last name Kinsalagh is an Irish surname that is derived from the Gaelic word “ceann salach” which translates to ‘dirty head’. This name likely originated in County Mayo, in the west of Ireland.
The origin of Kinsalagh in Ireland can be traced back to the generations of the early Gaelic Milesian nobility. During that time, surnames were developed to identify and differentiate families among the population. While the surnames reflected family roots and heritage, many of the Gaelic surnames were descriptive in nature, referencing different physical traits or occupations. In the case of the Kinsalagh surname, it was likely used to denote a person or family with an unkempt appearance or manner.
The Kinsalagh name has been passed down through generations of Irish people and can be found in many locations around the world today. As a result, variants of the last name exist and can include Kinsella, Kinnsley and Kinsley, among others.
Most people who bear the Kinsalagh surname today are likely unaware of its original meaning and might relate to the name in a completely different way. Nevertheless, the last name remains a reminder of the traditions and heritage of the Irish people and their impact on the world.
Order DNA origin analysisKinsalagh: Where does the name Kinsalagh come from?
The surname Kinsalagh is most commonly found in England and Ireland today. It is generally thought to be of Irish origin, derived from the old Irish family name ‘O’Cinnsealaigh’, which literally means “head of the council”. The surname was found particularly in County Clare in Medieval times, where it was held by the great Ua Cinnsealaigh sept.
Later, in the 1600s, the descendants of the clan emigrated from Clare to other parts of Ireland, particularly to other parts of the West, such as County Limerick and Wateford. It can also be found in the Midlands, Northeast and Northwest regions of England today.
The surname is still quite rare and recordings from the 1881 US Census showed only 80 Kinsalaghs in total. However, in the UK, recent figures from the 2019 UK Census shows that the surname is more common with a total of 2,457 people with this name. It is also now reaching other countries. For example, there has been a noticeable form of the name in Australia since the late 19th century.
Overall, the surname Kinsalagh is still quite rare today but its reach is becoming more widespread with pockets of the name appearing in countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Kinsalagh
Kinsalagh is a localized Irish surname which may also be spelled as Kinalagh, Kinalagha, Kinselagh or Kinsella. The original form of the surname may be O'Cionnaola, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name ‘cionn’ which meant chief and ‘gal’ meaning ‘valor’. As the western regions of Ireland were heavily influenced by Norman settlers, some variations of the surname were adopted such as McEnealagh, McEneal, Kinnel, and Kinselagh.
The variant spellings may also have developed due to the Irish language’s use of a different spelling system. This can be seen through the use of softer letters such as Kinalagha, with an ‘h’ being used to retain the soft pronunciation of the letter ‘g’. These variant spellings may have also developed due to the different dialects spoken throughout Ireland, through which the name’s pronunciation has changed slightly from one region to another.
Variations in surnames through the streets of Ireland can also be seen through the numerous Anglicised variations of the name, such as ‘Kinsalagh’ which may have been adapted from the original Gaelic ‘O'Cionnaola’. The records of individuals with this surname can be found throughout Irish records, and they are generally found in areas of Leinster, which is in the central east part of the country.
Surnames of the same origin may include McEnealagh, McEneal, Kinnel and Kinsella. These variations may appear in records of people with the surnames and may have originated from different spellings of the original name or even dialectal variations. In the modern day, some families with variants of the surname may even have changed the spelling again or dropped the prefix ‘O’, due to the difficulty in translating it into English.
Famous people with the name Kinsalagh
- James Kinsala: James Kinsla is an Irish rapper and singer-songwriter from Dublin. He has released four studio albums, two extended plays, and one mixtape.
- Ruth Kinsala: Ruth Kinsala is an actress known for her roles in films such as "The Grass Arena," "Listowel" and "Borstal Boy."
- Conleth Kinsalagh: Conleth Kinsalagh is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender. He made over 200 appearances in the League of Ireland over a professional career spanning 12 years.
- William Kinsala: William Kinsala is an Irish actor, best known for his roles in the stage production "The Seafarer" and the film "The Wind That Shakes the Barley".
- Kenny Kinsala: Kenny Kinsala is an Irish professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He is best known for his Aceros and Courageous Combat Cruiserweight Championship reigns.
- Tim Kinsala: Tim Kinsala is an Irish former professional boxer who held the Irish middleweight title and the British middleweight title. He also represented Ireland at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
- Oisin Kinsala: Oisin Kinsala is an Irish-born actor best known for his roles in the BBC series "The Fall" and the Netflix series "Rebellion".
- Emma Kinsala: Emma Kinsala is a fashion designer from Dublin with a degree in fashion design from the National College of Art & Design. She is the founder and designer of the luxury fashion house, Emma Kinsala.
- Paddy Kinsala: Paddy Kinsala is an Irish politician who has served in the Irish Senate since 2016. He is a member of the Ireland's Labour party and has served as a member of Seanad Éireann.