The surname Feeley is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic O Foghladha, meaning "descendant of Foghlaidh." The name was anglicized to various forms including Feely, Feeley, and Feeley. The Feeleys were a notable sept in County Mayo, Ireland. They were chiefs of Hy-Many and were descended from Eogan Mór (Eogan the Great), who lived around the 10th century. Over time, members of this family migrated to England, Scotland, Wales, and other parts of Europe, as well as North America, carrying their surname with them.
The surname Feeley is an Anglicized form of several Irish Gaelic names, primarily O Foghlú (from County Tipperary), Ó Faoláin (from County Cork), and Mac Phailéacháin (from County Mayo). These Irish names are derived from various sources: O Foghlú translates to "descendant of the judge," Ó Faoláin means "descendant of the wise one," and Mac Phailéacháin signifies "son of the scholar." The Anglicization of these Gaelic names, particularly during the English colonization of Ireland, led to the emergence of the surname Feeley. Over time, it has become a common Irish surname, predominantly found in Ireland but also present in other English-speaking countries due to emigration patterns.
The surname Feeley is predominantly found in Ireland, particularly in the provinces of Munster and Connacht, where it originated as an anglicized form of various Gaelic names including Ó Foghlú, Ó Fidhleo, and Mac Pháilí. Over time, emigration from Ireland led to the spread of the name throughout other English-speaking countries, notably the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In these nations, Feeley is generally concentrated in urban centers with a large Irish immigrant population or in areas where earlier settlers from Ireland had established communities. Additionally, there are significant populations of people with the last name Feeley in England and Scotland due to migration between these islands.
The surname Feeley has several variants and spellings, primarily due to transcription errors during migration and changes in spelling conventions over time. Some of these variants include Feeley, Feally, Fealley, Feelea, Feeleye, and Feely. These variations may stem from regional dialects or mistakes made by scribes when recording names in historical documents. Additionally, Feeley can also be found as a variant of the Irish surname Ó Fidhle (meaning "descendant of Fidhla"), though this connection is not universally accepted among all Feeley descendants. It's important to note that these variations and their regional prevalence may differ depending on ancestral origins.
Notable individuals with the surname Feeley include:
1. Pat Feeley (born 1937), an American professional baseball player who played for five Major League Baseball teams during his career from 1960 to 1974.
2. Bill Feeley (1928-2019), a retired American professional basketball player who played as a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA).
3. Maureen Feeley (born 1957), an Australian political scientist, currently serving as the vice-chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney.
4. Michael Feeley (born 1968), a British actor known for his roles in television shows such as "The Bill" and "Holby City".
5. Kathleen Feeley (born 1950), an American author who has written several young adult novels, including the "Sweet Valley High" series.
6. John Feeley (1842-1907), a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the Senate of Canada.
These individuals have made significant contributions in various fields such as sports, academia, politics, and literature.
The surname Feeley is predominantly of Irish origin and is a variant of O'Faelain, meaning "descendant of Faelan," a personal name derived from "fael," meaning "wild" or "handsome." This name was most commonly found in Counties Galway and Mayo. The Feeley family can be traced back to the 13th century when they were chieftains of their respective territories. Over time, they migrated southwards due to political and religious conflicts, settling mainly in counties Cork, Kerry, and Limerick. The name was Anglicized to Feely, Feeley, Felly, and eventually Feeley during the 16th and 17th centuries as a result of British rule and efforts to standardize Irish names. Today, significant numbers of people with the surname Feeley can be found not only in Ireland but also in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking countries where Irish immigration was prevalent during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Chargement de la carte...
Enter the surname you are looking for below:
surnames > fee
The surname Fee is of English origin and derives from several possible sources. It could originate as a topographic name for someone who lived near a 'fee', an enclosure or a piece...
surnames > feehan
The surname Feehan is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Fathaigh, which means "descendant of Fathach." The name Fathach is derived from the Irish word...
surnames > feeku
The last name Feeku is of African origin. It is commonly found in Ghana and is believed to be of Akan descent.
surnames > feerazz
The surname "Feerazz" does not have a widely known origin. It may be a variant of a more common surname or have a unique origin specific to an individual or family.
surnames > feeroz-ahmed
The last name "Ahmed" is of Arabic origin, meaning "highly praised" or "one who constantly thanks God." It is a common name among Muslims, particularly in the Middle East and South...
surnames > f-z
The last name "FZ" is of Chinese origin. It is a common surname found among Chinese families.
surnames > feezy
The last name "Feezy" does not have a specific origin or meaning. It is not found in historical records or genealogical databases.