McAnally is an Irish surname. It is the Anglicized form of Gaelic meaning 'son of Cú Allaidh' ('wild hound', 'wolf'). The death of the progenitor – Conchobhar mac Con Allaidh, lord of Cenél Moain, in Ulster – is recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters in 1178.
In Ulster, McAnally, and its common variant spelling McNally, is unrelated to the Mayo name ('son of the poor man'). It is however etymologically related to , a County Sligo sept, and ('son/descendant of Cú Allta'; a variant of Cú Allaidh).
History The MacAnallys were of the Cenél nEógain, a large and powerful confederation of clans descended from Eógan mac Néill (), son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The MacAnally sept of County Tyrone were descended from Conchobar mac Con Allaidh (), chieftain of Cenél Moain. A minor sept derived from their eponym Cú Allaidh Ó Luinigh, the family fostered Niall Conallagh O'Neill, tanist of Tyrone, who derived his sobriquet. A prominent branch ruled from their seat of Lisanally () in what is now County Armagh. Another branch settled in Clandeboye, County Antrim and became hereditary physicians to the O'Neill Kings of Clandeboye (). In the 17th century, the family lands were confiscated following the Flight of the Earls and subsequent Plantation of Ulster.
The status of the family is fully recognized in the Annals of Ulster and Ceart Uí Néill.
Notable people Aonghus McAnally (born 1955), Irish broadcaster, entertainer and billiards player Bill McAnally (born 1965), American racing driver and team owner Charles McAnally (1836–1905), United States Army officer Conor McAnally (born 1952), Irish television writer, producer, and director
John McAnally (born 1945), British Vice Admiral
Ron McAnally (born 1932), American horse trainer
See also
McNally (surname) Nally Branches of the Cenél nEógain
References