Home › Irish Surnames › O'Reilly

Irish surname

O'Reilly: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Raghallaigh · 'descendant of Raghallach'

O'Reilly, with Reilly and Riley, is an anglicised form of the Irish Ó Raghallaigh, 'descendant of Raghallach'. Woulfe (1923) says the O'Reillys were chiefs of Breifney-O'Reilly, most of present Co. Cavan, and that five of the name were Primates of Armagh. In 1890 Reilly births were found principally in Cavan, Longford, Dublin, Meath, Mayo and Cork.

Shop O'Reilly crest giftsRead the history
Coat of arms associated with the O'Reilly surname
Irish formÓ Raghallaigh
Meaning'descendant of Raghallach'
CountiesCavan, Meath, Westmeath, Longford
Other spellings11

Origin of the O'Reilly name

Woulfe says the O'Reillys are of the same stock as the O'Rourkes and were chiefs of Breifney-O'Reilly, most of present Co. Cavan. In the 13th and 14th centuries they extended their rule over all Cavan and parts of Meath and Westmeath, kept their independence as a clan until James I, and held considerable property until the Cromwellian confiscations.[1]

  1. 1649Owen Roe O'Neill dies at Cloughouter Castle, home of Philip O'Reilly.[8]
  2. 1657Edward O'Reilly consecrated Archbishop of Armagh in April.[5]
  3. 1666Archbishop Edward O'Reilly arrested in Dublin and later deported.[5]
  4. 1693About this year Hugh O'Reilly publishes 'Ireland's Case Briefly Stated'.[7]
  5. 1768Alexander O'Reilly takes possession of Louisiana for Spain in June.[6]
  6. 1890586 birth entries for Reilly and its spellings; 62 for O'Reilly.[3][4]

Where in Ireland

Co. CavanBreifney-O'Reilly comprised most of the county; first-named county for Reilly births in 1890.[1][3]
Co. MeathO'Reilly rule extended into parts of Meath in the 13th–14th centuries.[1][3]
Co. WestmeathO'Reilly rule extended into parts of Westmeath in the 13th–14th centuries.[1]
Co. LongfordAmong six counties holding about 65% of Reilly births in 1890.[3]
Co. DublinAmong six counties holding about 65% of Reilly births in 1890; main county for the O'Reilly form.[3][4]

Notable people named O'Reilly

Edward O'Reilly1606–1669Born in Dublin; Archbishop of Armagh from 1657; imprisoned and exiled; died at Saumur, France.[5]
Hugh O'Reillyd. c. 1694Cavan-born barrister; Master in Chancery under James II; wrote 'Ireland's Case Briefly Stated'.[7]
Count Alexander O'Reilly1722–1794Born at Baltrasna, Co. Meath; Spanish general; took possession of Louisiana in 1768.[6]

Other spellings

Reilly · Riley · O'Reiley · O'Rielly · O'Realley · Rielly · Really · Realy · Reely · Rawley · Rally[1]

The O'Reilly coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the O'Reilly surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

O'Reilly crest gifts

Clan Reilly Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap GV47 Reilly Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Reilly Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Reilly Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapTW39 Classic Cap - Reilly Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Reilly Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Oreilly Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapXA38 Classic Cap - Oreilly Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Oreilly Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

O'Reilly surname: questions

What does the surname O'Reilly mean?

Woulfe gives O'Reilly as an anglicised form of Ó Raghallaigh, 'descendant of Raghallach'.[1]

Where in Ireland is the O'Reilly name from?

Woulfe says the O'Reillys were chiefs of Breifney-O'Reilly, most of present Co. Cavan, and later ruled all Cavan and parts of Meath and Westmeath. In 1890 Reilly births were found principally in Cavan, Longford, Dublin, Meath, Mayo and Cork.[1][3]

Are O'Reilly, Reilly and Riley the same name?

Woulfe lists O'Reilly, Reilly, Rielly, Riley and other spellings as anglicised forms of Ó Raghallaigh.[1]

Why does O'Reilly have so many spellings?

Woulfe says the name 'is now one of the most common in Ireland, but owing to its numerous dialectical variations is variously anglicised in different parts of the country'.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Raghailligh, Ó Raghallaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/or/o-raghailligh.php
  2. Ó Rághallaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/or/o-raghallaigh.php
  3. Reilly – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909; 1890 birth indexes), LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/reilly.php
  4. O'Reilly – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909; 1890 birth indexes), LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/oreilly.php
  5. Archbishop Edward O'Reilly — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/ArchbishopEdwardOReilly.php
  6. Count Alexander O'Reilly — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/CountAlexanderOReilly.php
  7. Hugh O'Reilly — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/HughOReilly.php
  8. Owen Roe O'Neill — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/OwenRoeONeill.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).