Surname O'Manlie - Meaning and Origin
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O'Manlie: What does the surname O'Manlie mean?
The last name O'Manlie is a very old and distinct Irish surname. It has a Gaelic origin, deriving from an anglicized form of the Gaelic word ‘Ó Manluadha’. This phrase, when translated directly, means ‘descendant of Manluadha’, which is a personal name that is believed to have been derived from a Celtic word for a man of great strength or power.
The O'Manlie family is believed to have originated in County Galway, in the Connacht province of Ireland in ancient times. The family belonged to the Uí Maine dynasty, an ancient Irish political grouping and branch of the Kindred of Conmaicne. The family was well known in both the ruling circles of the region and in the local population during periods of history.
In the modern age, the O'Manlie name has become somewhat less common, likely due to emigration and other social changes. As such, there are not many people who carry the O'Manlie name at present. Nevertheless, this surname remains an important element in Ireland's past and the surnames of people related to it are still found primarily in the Connacht region of Ireland. Those who possess the O'Manlie surname may take pride in their Irish family history and their association with the Connacht region.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Manlie: Where does the name O'Manlie come from?
The O'Manlie family are believed to have origins from County Clare, Ireland. As the saying goes, "From Clare to here" is a reference to places where the O'Manlies have been known to have settled. The most recent reports indicate that the surname is still common in Clare and the surrounding area.
Today, there's evidence that the name has spread to other parts of Ireland and the United Kingdom, particularly Scotland, England, and Wales. While the name is not as frequent as other Irish surnames, it still appears throughout the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the world.
It is believed that the O'Manlie family originated in County Clare from the 10th century. Historical records say that the family name originated as a result of one of the family's ancestors who took on the name of "O'Manlie" after his father, who was deemed the "Manlie" of that particular region.
The O'Manlies of today, consequently, can trace their descendants back to that original ancestor—earning the nickname of “Manly's People”.
The current descendants of the original O'Manlie family—whether in Ireland or elsewhere—trace their lineage with pride and often display a deep sense of family loyalty. While the name may not be as common as it once was, the O'Manlie surname is still seen today. The name carries with it a sense of pride, history, and loyalty—once a feature of the name and still present today.
Variations of the surname O'Manlie
The surname O'Manlie is derived from the ancient Irish Gaelic personal name Ó Maoileidigh. This name, which is mainly found in Connacht and Ulster counties of Ireland, is an anglicized form of the Gaelic O Mael eiidigh, which means descendant of the devotee of St. Eidigh.
Variants of O'Manlie include O Manely, O Manly, O Manley, O Mahonely, and O Mannelley. These variants often arose in the 1600s and 1700s, when English-speaking officials began to record Irish names phonetically, leading to variations in the spelling of surnames.
Variants of the same spelling are also found in Scotland, where it is spelled O Manle or O Maunle. Other related surnames include McManly, Manly, Manlymore, Manley, Maulley, and Mahoni.
The spelling O'Manley is also found in southern Ulster and Counties Leitrim and Monaghan. O’Moniley is an alternate spelling found in County Monaghan, while O’Mannally is found mostly in County Galway. In some cases, the original form of the name is now written as Ó Maoileidigh or Ó Maillidhe.
Overall, the variations and alternate surnames of O’Manlie stem largely from the Irish Gaelic origin of the name, and the fact that surnames began to be anglicized and standardized only in the late 1600s.
Famous people with the name O'Manlie
- Erick O’Malley, Irish politician
- John Francis O'Malley, American politician
- Pat O’Malley, English actor
- Brendan O’Malley, Irish actor
- Marie O’Malley, Irish actress
- Michael O’Malley, American actor
- John Patrick O’Malley, American actor
- Andrew O’Malley, Irish journalist
- Elizabeth O’Malley, American athlete
- Peter O’Malley, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Anne O’Malley, Irish politician
- Cora O’Malley, Irish author
- Roisin O’Malley, Irish musician
- Paul O’Malley, Irish actor
- Frances O’Malley, American director and producer