American Family Name Origins:
O'Connell
Frequency: (15220)
(number of times this surname appears in a sample database of 88.7 million names, representing one third of the 1997 US population)
Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Conaill ‘descendant of Conall’, a personal name, possibly composed of the elements con, from cú ‘hound’ or ‘wolf’ (genitive con) + gal ‘valour’. It was borne by many early chieftains and warriors of Ireland, including the Ulster hero Conall Cearnach, one of the two sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages, who gave his name to Tirconell, otherwise known as Donegal. It was further popularized by the fame of a 7th-century Irish saint, abbot of Inis Caoil.
GIVEN NAMES: Irish 6%. Brendan (16), Liam (7), Donal (3), Finbarr (3), Malachy (3), Seamus (2), William Sean (2), Aileen, Aisling, Brian Patrick, Colm, Dermot.
See the Key to the Dictionary or consult the General Introduction for further explanation.
