McNally (surname)

McNally is an Irish surname.

In Ulster it originated in County Tyrone as the anglicized form of Mac Conallaidh 'son of Cú Allaidh', a Gaelic name of the Cenél nEógain meaning the 'wild hound', i.e. 'wolf'. Prevalent in Ulster counties Antrim, Armagh and Monaghan, Mac Con Allaidh is a branch of the “Northern Ó Néill” group of Ulster clans. They are separate from the Mayo name Mac an Fhailghigh (see below).

In Connacht the surname (typically spelt as Nally) originated in County Mayo as angliczed from Mac an Fhailghigh, 'son of the poor man' (modern Irish: Mac an Fhailí). Of Norman origin, the name was a Gaelicized form of Le Poer meaning "poor man" – this actually refers to a deliberate, religious vow of poverty, rather than ordinary pauperism.