Connolly Family History
Connolly Name Meaning
Irish and Manx: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Conghaile ‘descendant of Conghal’ a name meaning ‘hound valiant’ or of Ó Conghalaigh ‘descendant of Conghalach’ a derivative of Conghal; the two surnames have long been confused. Anglicized Irish forms Conneely Connealy Cunneely have arisen where loss of gh has caused lengthening of the second syllable of Conghal: they often also (Connacht) represent shortened forms of McNeilly from Mac Conghaile. Another possible origin is the West Cork name Mac Coingheallaigh (or Ó Coingheallaigh) ‘son (or descendant) of Coingheallach’ a personal name meaning ‘faithful to pledges’. See McNeilly .
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022