Surname McNally - Meaning and Origin

Beyond the Emerald Isle: Surprising Revelations of McNally Ancestry from an iGENEA DNA Test

My adventure started with a quest to uncover my lineage was filled with surprise and unfathomable turns. As a McNally, I anticipated discovering deep Irish roots, but the iGENEA DNA test revealed a far more complicated and nuanced historical tapestry, including unexpected Viking, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Iberian strands, compelling me to reassess the purported notion of pure Irish ancestry.

D. McNally

McNally: What does the surname McNally mean?

The last name McNally is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Fhailghigh," which literally translates to "son of the poor man." This name was often used to denote individuals, generally men, who were monks or men of the church, taking a vow of poverty as part of their religious duties. Over time, it became a common surname, used to indicate descendants of such individuals. It's largely associated with the North Connacht region in Ireland with large pockets found in Counties Monaghan and Fermanagh. Remember, living up to the McNally name doesn't mean that one is destined for a life of poverty; it simply pays homage to the ancestors' religious or monastic obligations.

McNally: Where does the name McNally come from?

The last name McNally originates from Ireland. It comes from the Gaelic word "Mac an Fhailghigh," which means "son of the poor man". The name originated in the northern province of Connacht, mostly in Counties Roscommon and Leitrim, before spreading throughout Ireland and further afield with Irish emigration.

Today, the last name McNally is common in several English-speaking countries due to the widespread Irish diaspora. This includes the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. However, it still remains most common in Ireland. The descendants of the original McNally clans continue to reside in Leitrim and Roscommon in large numbers.

Overall, while McNally can be found in various parts of the world, its roots are deep in Irish history and it continues to be associated with Irish heritage.

Variations of the surname McNally

The surname McNally is of Irish origin and may have several variants and spellings due to the distortion of its Gaelic form, passing through different languages and regions. These include MacNally, MacAnally, MacAnalley, MacInally, MacInalley, McNalley, Nally, and Nalley.

The original Gaelic form of the name McNally is "Mac an Fhailghigh," which means "son of the poor man." It belongs to the large category of Irish surnames that are derived from the name of the original bearer's father or grandfather. This surname originates from the region of County Leitrim in the province of Connacht, in the northwestern part of Ireland.

It is also important to note that over time, the prefix "Mac", meaning "son of," was often dropped or abbreviated to "Mc". In this context, the surname spread to various regions, adapting to local dialects, resulting in different spelling variations.

There can also be completely different surnames that sound similar to McNally but are not directly related, such as McNulty or McAnulty, which are derived from a different Gaelic name, "Mac an Ultaigh".

Famous people with the name McNally

• Siobhan McNally: Irish television presenter
• Chris McNally: Canadian television actor
• Jimmy McNally: Scottish football player and manager
• Rosemarie McNally: American teacher and author
• Deirdre McNally: Irish academic and activist
• James McNally: American musician and composer
• Tripp McNally: American businessman and engineer
• Pat McNally: American football player
• Paul McNally: Australian rugby coach and player
• Rory McNally: Irish journalist and television presenter

Other surnames

McNallMcNalley