O'Kelly explained

O'Kelly or Kelly is an Irish surname. It derives from the Kings of Uí Maine.

Notable people with the surname include:

• Aloysius O'Kelly (1853–1936), Irish painter, brother of James Joseph O'Kelly
• Auguste O'Kelly (1829–1900), music publisher in Paris
• Christopher O'Kelly (1895–1922), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Don O'Kelly (1924–1966), American actor
• Edward Peter O'Kelly (1846–1914), Irish politician
• Gabriel O'Kelly (died 1731), Irish clergyman
• George O'Kelly (1831–1914), Franco-Irish pianist and composer
• Henri O'Kelly (1859–1938), Franco-Irish composer, pianist and organist
• James O'Kelly (1735–1826), American Methodist clergyman
• James Joseph O'Kelly (1845–1916), Irish politician, brother of Aloysius O'Kelly
• John J. O'Kelly (1872–1957), Irish politician
• Joseph O'Kelly (1828–1885), Franco-Irish composer and pianist
• Malcolm O'Kelly (born 1974), Irish rugby player
• Roger Demosthenes O'Kelly (1880–1962), African-American lawyer
• Seán T. O'Kelly (1882–1966), Irish politician, second President of Ireland
• Seumas O'Kelly (1881–1918), Irish writer

Fictional characters

• Manuel Garcia O'Kelly-Davis, protagonist of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
• Michael the O'Kelly, hero of seven books by Manning O'Brine
• One of the titular families in The Kellys and the O'Kellys, the second novel of Anthony Trollope

See also

• Albéric O'Kelly de Galway (1911–1980), Belgian chess grandmaster
• Mary O'Kelly de Galway (1905-1999), Irish Belgian resistance operative