History of Our Name

The Irish surname Farrelly may be an anglicized form either of O Faircheallaigh or O Farghaile, the latter bein a variant of O Fearghail (O'Farrell).  The prefix "O" signifies "grandson of" or "descendant" and indicates the patronymic origin of the name while the first name denotes a "man of valour", hence  "descendant of a man of valour."  The O'Farrelly sept originated in Breffny, that ancient territory which today comprises Cavan and west Leitrim, and are associated in both early and modern times principally with Counties Cavan and Meath.  Their leadng family were "erenaghs", i.e. hereditary lay lords of a church establishment, of Drumland in Co. Cavan, and also of St. Mague, until the suppression of the monasteries in the 16th Century, and a notable bearer of e name was Cavan.  At oe time there was another Farrelly sept seated at Knockainy, Co. Limerick.  They are mentioned in a 14th Century topographical poem and were still numerous in Co. Limerick when the 1659 "census" was compiled.  By the 19th Century however, they had disappeared.  It is interesting to note that in parts of Ulster Farley is used as a synonym of Farrelly, the former being a common English surname.  Cardiinal Farley (1842-1918), Archbishop of New York, who was born in Co. Armach, is an example of the use of this synonym.