Surname O'Tully - Meaning and Origin
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O'Tully: What does the surname O'Tully mean?
The last name O'Tully is an Irish surname, originating from an old family who held the lands of Tully in the northern barony of Trathnona in County Leitrim. The name O'Tully derives from the Irish name “O’Tuathail”, meaning descendant of Tuathail. The ancient Tuathail was a Gaelic chieftain who led his clan to County Leitrim from Connacht during the 12th century.
The original O’Tullys were a historic clann, and by the 19th century were described as a ‘very powerful family’ in the barony of Trathnona. For centuries they were thought to have been one of the leading tribes in the region, and their influence is apparent throughout the archival records of the time.
The O’Tullys were strong promoters of patriotism and sovereignty, so when the Irish Rebellion of 1798 began, the O’Tullys were quick to answer the call to arms. Among the members of the clan who took to the fields in support of the rebellion was Edward O'Tully, an ancestor of the present Earl of Tully.
Throughout the 19th century, the O’Tullys endured through adversity, often involved in skirmishes against the British forces. However, they managed to remain steadfast in their pursuit of independence and their clann harkens back to these proud origins.
Today, the O’Tullys retain their Irish heritage through their pride in their family lineage and their unyielding commitment to continued independence. The name symbolizes resilience and fortitude in the face of oppression and stands a testament to the strength of the Irish people in their struggle for freedom.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Tully: Where does the name O'Tully come from?
The last name O'Tully is primarily associated with Ireland, and is mostly found around the south western coast in particular. This includes counties such as Cork, Galway, Limerick, Mayo and Tipperary.
O'Tully is a surname which has its origins in a Norman-English nobleman by the name of Tally. The man was known as Walter de Tally and arrived in Ireland in the 12th century. Upon arriving, he adopted the Gaelic surname 'Ua Tuathail', which translates to 'descendant of Tuathal'. This was eventually anglicised to O'Tully.
The O'Tully's were a family of some renown in Westmeath during the 16th and 17th centuries. They were skilled in craftsmanship and commonly oversaw the building works of many of the castles of Westmeath.
Today, the surname O'Tully is most commonly found in the Western Province of Ireland, with it being particularly common in Mayo and Galway for instance. In 2012, the surname O'Tully ranked 19,406 among the most popular surnames in the United States of America, indicating it was common enough in parts.
The surname can also be found in other parts of the English-speaking world, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However, this is often in much smaller numbers compared to its presence in the Irish Province.
Variations of the surname O'Tully
The surname O'Tully has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of the O’Tully surname is Tully, which is an Anglicized version of the Irish Ó Tuathail. This variant of O'Tully is most popular in Ireland.
In addition to the standard Tully spelling, other variants of the surname include Tally, Tallee, Toolee, O'Toole, O'Talley, Talley, Toole, Toohill, Toolis, Twohill, Touhill, Tohill, Tuohy and Tuohill.
The O’Tuathail name itself is derived from the Irish words tuath, meaning “tribe” or “nation” and gal, meaning “valour”. It is believed that the O'Tuathail family originated from County Galway, located in the province of Connacht in northwest Ireland.
O’Tully is the Anglicised version of the surname Ó Tuathail, which is derived from the Irish Gaelic phrase 'úa Tuathail', meaning 'grandson of Tuathail'. The name Tuathail means 'people' or 'nation'.
The O’Tuathails are believed to have descended from an ancient line of Kings that populated Connacht in the early Middle Ages. It is also believed that they marry into one of the noble Gaelic families and became Chiefs of their own Tribe.
Although the O’Tuathail surname is still present in Ireland today, many Irish people who once bore the name have emigrated to other countries including England, Scotland, the United States, and Canada. As a result, the name O'Tully has become more widely known throughout the world.
Famous people with the name O'Tully
- Stella O'Tully: a celebrated artist best known for her abstract painting and sculpture
- Peter O'Tully: an actor who gained fame for his lead role in the Oscar-winning film On the Waterfront
- Seamus O'Tully: a renowned Irish musician known for his soulful accordion and fiddle playing
- Amy O'Tully: a widely acclaimed playwright, known for works such as The Good Silence and Night by Night
- Robert O'Tully: former US Senator from Virginia
- Paul O'Tully: a popular celebrity chef known for combining traditional French cooking techniques with modern molecular gastronomy
- Patrick O'Tully: a prominent civil rights leader in 1950s America
- Abigail O'Tully: an award-winning journalist known for her long-form investigative pieces
- John O'Tully: a World War II veteran and one of the first to receive the Medal of Honor
- Daniel O'Tully: a successful venture capitalist and philanthropist who has founded several charities in the US and abroad