O'Feeley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of O'Feeley

What does the name O'Feeley mean?

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the O'Feeley family in Ireland was "Mac Fithcheallaigh," from the word "fithcheallach," referring to a chess player.

Early Origins of the O'Feeley family

The surname O'Feeley was first found in counties Donegal and Derry, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the O'Feeley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Feeley research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1516, 1548, 1555, 1559, 1567 and 1626 are included under the topic Early O'Feeley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Feeley Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the O'Feeley family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Feeley, Fealy, Feally, Feely, Fehilly, Fehley, Feley, O'Feeley, O'Feely and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Feeley family

More information is included under the topic Early O'Feeley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Feeley family

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name O'Feeley: Margaret Fihilly, and her four children who arrived in Charleston Massachusetts in 1803; Michael Feely, whose Oath of Allegiance was recorded in Philadelphia in 1802.