Surname O'Quigley - Meaning and Origin
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O'Quigley: What does the surname O'Quigley mean?
The last name O'Quigley is an Irish patronymic surname of Gaelic origin. The name is derived from the Irish surname "Ó Coigligh," which translates to "son of Coigleach," or "son of the Helpful One." The prefix "Ó" translates to "grandson" or "descendent of," and "Coigleach" is an old Gaelic word meaning "helpful" or "useful." The O'Quigley surname is most associated with the local regions of Connacht and County Galway in Ireland. It is also found among Irish descendants in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The O'Quigleys have a long and distinguished history. The clan is associated with the Connacht region of Ireland, and they were a powerful family before the Norman invasions in 1169. During this time, the O'Quigleys held control of many important positions in politics and military affairs. As the Normans began to spread across the region, the O'Quigleys lost much of their holdings and were participating in rebellions by the 15th century.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, O'Quigleys emigrated to Britain, Canada, and the United States. In the United States, the O'Quigleys established themselves as a prominent and successful Irish-American family. They settled in areas of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and some branches moved to California and the Midwest.
Today, the O'Quigleys have become a prominent and respected family. Despite their tumultuous past, the family has achieved great success and continues to be influential in the Irish-American community. Their name continues to be respected and has become synonymous with loyalty, strength, and helpfulness.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Quigley: Where does the name O'Quigley come from?
The last name O'Quigley is predominantly found in Ireland, particularly in the Province of Connacht. It was particularly common in the midlands where it became an established clan since the 10th century. It is also recorded in early census records from counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon. O'Quigleys are descendants of the ruling Ui Fiachrach dynasty from the Sligo-Leitrim region.
The O'Quigleys were renowned for their loyalty to the Irish monarchy and this was noted during the Gaelic revival in the late sixteenth and late seventeenth centuries, when Irish nobles were so devoted to the monarchy that the English could not suppress them. The O'Quigleys remained a prominent family throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and the name can be traced back to pre-Norman times in Ireland.
Today, the O'Quigley name is most common in Ireland, particularly in counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon. It is also found further abroad such as in the United States and Australia. Whilst the name is not among the most common in the United States it is still well-recognized; the 2000 U.S. Census reported 353 people with the surname O'Quigley.
Though now scattered around the world, the O'Quigleys still proudly trace their heritage back to their origins in Ireland.
Variations of the surname O'Quigley
The surname O'Quigley is an Irish surname, deriving from the original Gaelic names Ó Coigligh or Ó Cuigeadh. Originally, this was the name of a sept of the Cenél Conaill.
Variant spellings of the surname include O'Quigly, O'Quigley, Quigly, Quigley and Quiggly. Other forms include Cogley, Cogly and Coghley.
Anglicised spellings of the surname can include Keely, Kealley, Kealey, Kealy and Quiggin. Variant forms of these spellings also exist.
The O'Quigley family may have originated from County Donegal but were known to have extensive holdings in the barony of Tireragh, County Sligo from the 12th Century onward. Tireragh has the remains of a motte-and-bailey castle, thought to have been built in the late 12th Century or early 13th Century by the O'Quigley family.
Today, O'Quigley can be found as a surname throughout Ireland and in many other countries. There are also quite a few people with the surname living outside of Ireland, especially in the United States.
In more modern times, different spellings of the surname have been adopted to distinguish individual branches of the family. These include O'Quiggan, OQughly and OQugley. In some cases, the name may have been changed to more closely resemble a similar-sounding surname.
Famous people with the name O'Quigley
- Pierce O'Quigley, an Irish actor
- Hanora O'Quigley, an Irish-American actress, best known for her roles in Armageddon and Miss Congeniality
- Liam O'Quigley, an Irish Gaelic footballer
- Eamon O'Quigley, a former professor of medicine at Stanford University
- Michael O'Quigley, an Irish historian and poet
- Patrick O'Quigley, an Irish philosopher and theologian
- Rosalie O'Quigley, an Irish author and journalist
- Sean O'Quigley, an Irish professional golfer
- Siobhán O'Quigley, an Irish sports commentator and presenter
- Thomas O'Quigley, an American film and television actor, best known for his roles in I, Robot and Terminator Salvation