O'Cleary ( ga, Ó Cléirigh) is the surname of a learned

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

Irish family. It is the oldest recorded surname in Europe — dating back to 916 CE — and is cognate with cleric and clerk. The O'Clearys are a sept of the

Uí Fiachrach The Uí Fiachrach () were a royal dynasty who originated in, and whose descendants later ruled, the ''coicead'' or ''fifth'' of Connacht (a western province of Ireland) at different times from the mid-first millennium onwards. They claimed descent ...

dynasty, who ruled the

Kingdom of Connacht The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the ''cóiced'' (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being name ...

for nearly two millennia. As Connachta, the O'Cleary's ruled the kingdom of

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne (also known as Hy Fiachrach) was a kingdom located in what is now the south of County Galway. Legendary origins and geography Originally known as Aidhne, it was said to have been settled by the mythical Fir Bolg. Dubhalta ...

for nearly 800 years. They are the descendants of

Fiachrae Fiachrae was an Irish prince, the son of the high king Eochaid Mugmedón (d.362) by his wife Mongfind, sister of Crimthann mac Fidaig (d.367).Francis J.Byrne, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings'', Table 1 He was ancestor of the Uí Fiachrach dynasties o ...

, son of the High King Eochaid Mugmedon, and elder brother of legendary High King

Niall of the Nine Hostages Niall ''Noígíallach'' (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. ...

. According to legend, they ultimately trace their ancestry back to the mythical

Fir Bolg In medieval Irish myth, the Fir Bolg (also spelt Firbolg and Fir Bholg) are the fourth group of people to settle in Ireland. They are descended from the Muintir Nemid, an earlier group who abandoned Ireland and went to different parts of Europe. ...

, as well as to Milesius, and consequently to

Japheth Japheth ( he, יֶפֶת ''Yép̄eṯ'', in pausa ''Yā́p̄eṯ''; el, Ἰάφεθ '; la, Iafeth, Iapheth, Iaphethus, Iapetus) is one of the three sons of Noah in the Book of Genesis, in which he plays a role in the story of Noah's drunk ...

, son of

Noah Noah ''Nukh''; am, ኖህ, ''Noḥ''; ar, نُوح '; grc, Νῶε ''Nôe'' () is the tenth and last of the pre-Flood patriarchs in the traditions of Abrahamic religions. His story appears in the Hebrew Bible (Book of Genesis, chapters 5– ...

. During the

Norman conquest of Ireland The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland took place during the late 12th century, when Anglo-Normans gradually conquered and acquired large swathes of land from the Irish, over which the kings of England then claimed sovereignty, all allegedly sanc ...

, they were expelled from their land and replaced by their cousins the

O'Shaughnessy Ó Seachnasaigh, O'Shaughnessy, collectively Uí Sheachnasaigh, clan name Cinél nAedha na hEchtghe, is a family surname of Irish origin. The name is found primarily in County Galway and County Limerick. Their name derives from Seachnasach mac ...

's. From the early 11th or 12th century, they were based in

Tír Chonaill Tyrconnell (), also spelled Tirconnell, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Donegal, which has sometimes been called ''County Tyrconnell''. At times it also included parts of County Fermanagh, Cou ...

, located in modern-day

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

, where they served as poet-historians, scribes and secretaries to the

O'Donnell dynasty The O'Donnell dynasty ( ga, Ó Dónaill or ''Ó Domhnaill,'' ''Ó Doṁnaill'' ''or Ua Domaill;'' meaning "descendant of Dónal") were the dominant Irish clan of the kingdom of Tyrconnell, Ulster, in medieval Ireland. Naming conventions Or ...

Tyrconnell Tyrconnell (), also spelled Tirconnell, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Donegal, which has sometimes been called ''County Tyrconnell''. At times it also included parts of County Fermanagh, Cou ...

. They authored the

Ó Cléirigh Book of Genealogies The O'Clery Book of Genealogies, also known as Royal Irish Academy Ms. 23 D 17, was written by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, one of the Four Masters, who was transported in the 1650s to Ballyacroy, County Mayo, "under the guidance of Rory O'Donn ...

. The clan Cleary and its branches also appeared in Scotland (sometimes known as

McCleary McCleary is an Irish surname. It originated in Galway, Ireland, but the surname is primarily now found in Ulster and Scotland with many descendants in Ulster Scots and Irish areas of North America. The name McCleary is derived from the Gaelic ...

), due to the historical connection and exchange between the two countries, much like the Campbells.

Naming conventions

The name has been Anglicised variously as O'Clery, Cleary, Clery, Clark, Clarke and Clarkson.

People with the surname

Ó Cléirigh

Mac Comhaltan Ua Cleirigh Mac Comhaltan Ua Cleirigh was King of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne, . According to the ''Annals of the Four Masters'', ''sub anno'' 998: ''Diarmaid, son of Dunadhach, lord of Sil-Anmchadha, was slain by Mac Comhaltan Ua Cleirigh, lord of Aidhne.'' In ...

, King of

, fl. 964 *

Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh ( fl. 1603 – 1616), sometimes anglicised as Lewey O'Clery, was an Irish Gaelic poet and historian. He is best known today as the author of ''Beatha Aodha Ruaidh Uí Dhomhnaill'', a biography of Red Hugh O'Donnell. Life Bor ...

( fl. 1595–1630) *

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Mícheál Ó Cléirigh (), sometimes known as Michael O'Clery, was an Irish chronicler, scribe and antiquary and chief author of the ''Annals of the Four Masters,'' assisted by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, and Pereg ...

(ca. 1590–1643), considered the chief author of the chronicle of medieval Irish history known as the ''

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Deluge, dated as 2,24 ...

'' *

Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh (fl. 1624–1664) was an Irish historian and genealogist, known in English as Peregrine O'Clery. Life and work Ó Cléirigh was a son of Diarmaid Ó Cléirigh, and thus a third-cousin once removed to Brother Míche ...

(died 1664)

O'Clery

Keyes O'Clery Count Patrick Keyes O'Clery, The O'Clery (1849 – 23 May 1913), was a barrister and was Home Rule M.P. for County Wexford. Patrick Keyes O'Clery was the son of John Walsh O'Clery, The O'Clery. He was born in County Limerick and educated at Trin ...

Conor O'Clery Conor O'Clery is an Irish journalist and writer. Background Born in Belfast, Conor O'Clery graduated from Queen's University Belfast in 1972. He was deputy editor of The Gown, the QUB student newspaper. Career O'Clery worked for ''The Irish ...

Cleary

Bernard Cleary Bernard Cleary (May 8, 1937 – July 27, 2020) was a Canadians, Canadian politician. Cleary was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 2004 Canadian federal election. He was the ''Bloc Québécois'' member of parliament for the ...

(born 1937), Canadian politician *

Beverly Cleary Beverly Atlee Cleary (née Bunn; April 12, 1916March 25, 2021) was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction. One of America's most successful authors, 91 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide since her first b ...

(1916–2021), American author * Bill Cleary (born 1934), American hockey player *

Brendan Cleary Brendan Cleary (born 1958) is a poet who was born in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland but lives in England. Early years and career Cleary attended Carrickfergus Grammar School in Northern Ireland. He moved from Northern Ireland in 1977 to Middlesb ...

(born 1958), Irish poet * Brian P. Cleary (born 1959), American humorist, poet and author *

Daniel Cleary Daniel Michael Cleary (born December 18, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, Phoenix Coyotes and Detroit Red Wings. He currently s ...

(born 1978), Canadian hockey player *

Gabriel Cleary Gabriel Cleary (born 1945) is a former senior engineer in the Provisional IRA. A native of Tallaght, County Dublin, he was arrested in 1987 when the French and Irish governments intercepted a shipment of weapons from Libya. After spending five y ...

, Irish engineer *

Ivan Cleary Ivan Cleary (born 1 March 1971) is an Australian professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Penrith Panthers in the NRL and a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a and in the 1990s and 2000s. He is a ...

, rugby league footballer and coach * Joe Cleary (1918–2004), Irish baseball player *

John Cleary (disambiguation) John Cleary may refer to: *John Cleary (actor) from List of Australian films of 1974 *John Cleary (Canadian politician) (1932–2012), Ontario state politician *John Cleary (Gaelic footballer) (born 1963), Irish footballer *John Cleary (golfer) ...

, several people *

Jon Cleary Jon Stephen Cleary (22 November 191719 July 2010) was an Australian writer and novelist. He wrote numerous books, including '' The Sundowners'' (1951), a portrait of a rural family in the 1920s as they move from one job to the next, and '' The ...

(born 1917), Australian author *

Jon Cleary (musician) Jon Cleary (born August 11, 1962
BMA. ) is a British-born American

Mark Cleary (professor) Mark Cleary (born 1954) was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford in Yorkshire from 2007 to 2013.Yorkshireuniversities.ac.uk (2007)New VC for Bradford Retrieved 31 October 2007. He took over in 2007 after the previous vice-chancellor, ...

(born 1954), Vice-Chancellor of the

University of Bradford The University of Bradford is a Public university, public research university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. A plate glass university, it received its royal charter in 1966, making it the 40th university to be creat ...

* Michael Cleary, several people *

Nikki Cleary Brittney Rose "Nikki" Cleary (born May 11, 1988, Albany, New York) is an American pop-rock singing, singer. She first entered the pop market with the song "I.M. Me" while still using her given name. Her first album, ''Everything I Wished For'', w ...

(born 1988), American singer * Paul Cleary (born 1976), Australian middle-distance runner *

Phil Cleary Philip Ronald Cleary (born 8 December 1952) is an Australian commentator on politics and sport, particularly Australian rules football, and a former independent politician elected at the 1992 Wills by-election. Football playing career Cleary ...

(born 1952), Australian commentator *

Patrick Roger Cleary Patrick Roger Cleary (1858-1948) (known locally as P.R. Cleary) was the founder and namesake of Cleary University in Howell, Michigan. Patrick Roger Cleary was born in Nenagh in Ireland in 1858.Ann Cleary Kettles, ''Ypsilanti Gleanings'', Spring ...

, founder of

Cleary University Cleary University is a private university focused on business education with its main campus in Livingston County, Michigan. It also has an education center located in Detroit. Cleary University offers certificate, ABA, BBA, MS, and MBA programs. ...

Sean Cleary (footballer) Sean Cleary (born 26 February 1983) is a association football, football player from Northern Ireland. He signed for Cliftonville F.C., Cliftonville from Ards F.C., Ards in July 2005. He started his career with Cliftonville well, making his deb ...

(born 1983), Irish football player * Sean Cleary, Irish rugby league footballer *

Thomas Cleary Thomas Cleary (24 April 1949 – 20 June 2021) was an American translator and writer of more than 80 books related to Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, and Muslim classics, and of '' The Art of War'', a treatise on management, military strategy, an ...

, American author and translator *

William J. Cleary William J. Cleary (May 14, 1870 – 1952) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. From 1943 to 1950 he was member of the Michigan State House of Representatives for the second house district from Berrien County. Cleary was born ...

(1870–1952), American politician

Clarke

Austin Clarke (poet) Austin Clarke (Irish: Aibhistín Ó Cléirigh) (9 May 1896 – 19 March 1974), born in 83 Manor Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin, was one of the leading Irish poets of the generation after W. B. Yeats. He also wrote plays, novels and memoirs. Clar ...

(1896–1974), Irish poet *

Henry Edward Clarke Henry Edward Clarke (March 20, 1829 – March 25, 1892) was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Toronto West from 1883 to 1886 and Toronto from 1886 to 1892 in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Conservative. He ...

(1829–1892), businessman and politician in Ontario, Canada *

Henry Joseph Clarke Henry Joseph Clarke (July 7, 1833 – September 13, 1889), who sometimes used the middle names Hynes and O'Connell, was a lawyer and politician in Manitoba, Canada. Born in Donegal (now in the Republic of Ireland) on July 7, 1833, Clarke mo ...

(1833–1889), Premier of Manitoba, Canada, 1874–1878 * Peter Clarke (tennis) (born 1979), Irish tennis player *

Philip Clarke (politician) Philip Christopher Clarke (15 April 1933 – 6 July 1995) was an Irish business consultant and competitive cyclist, who had been an Irish Republican Army member in the 1950s. As a cyclist, he competed in the first two Rás Tailteann races, and rep ...

(born 1933), Irish Republican Army member and politician *

Tom Clarke (Irish republican) Thomas James Clarke ( ga, Tomás Séamus Ó Cléirigh; 11 March 1858 – 3 May 1916) was an Irish republican and a leader of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Clarke was arguably the person most responsible for the 1916 Easter Rising. A proponen ...

(1857–1916), executed for his part in the 1916 Rising

Other institutions

, a private business school in Michigan, United States *

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (known as Cleary Gottlieb) is an American multinational law firm headquartered at One Liberty Plaza in New York City. Known as a white shoe law firm, Cleary employs over 1,200 lawyers worldwide. History The ...

, an international law firm *The

Clery Act The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or Clery Act, signed in 1990, is a federal statute codified at , with implementing regulations in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations at . The Clery Act requ ...

of United States law *

Clerys Clerys was a long-established department store on O'Connell Street in Dublin, Ireland, a focal point of the street. The business dates from 1853, however the current building dates from 1922, having been completely destroyed in the 1916 Eas ...

, an Irish department store

References

Bibliography

* ''Oxford Concise Companion to Irish Literature'', Robert Walsh, 1996. * ''Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, His Associates and St Anthony's College Louvain'',

Nollaig Ó Muraíle Nollaig Ó Muraíle is an Irish scholar. He published an acclaimed edition of Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh's ''Leabhar na nGenealach'' in 2004. He was admitted to the Royal Irish Academy in 2009. Life and career A native of Knock, County Mayo, Ó ...

(editor),

Four Courts Press Four Courts Press is an independent Irish academic publishing house, with its office at Malpas Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. Founded in 1970 by Michael Adams, who died in February 2009, its early publications were primarily theological, notably t ...

, Dublin, 2007.

External links

O'Clery family pedigree
at Library Ireland
Ó Cléirigh ancestor search at ''Irish Times''Clan Ó Cléirigh DNA Project
at

Family Tree DNA FamilyTreeDNA is a division of Gene by Gene, a commercial genetic testing company based in Houston, Texas. FamilyTreeDNA offers analysis of autosomal DNA, YDNA, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial DNA to individuals for genealogical purpose. With a database ...

The O’Clerys: hereditary historians and poets
at

History Ireland ''History Ireland'' is a magazine with a focus on the history of Ireland. The first issue of the magazine appeared in Spring 1993. It went full-colour in 2004 and since 2005 it is published bi-monthly. It features articles by a range of writers ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:O Cleirigh Surnames Irish-language surnames Surnames of Irish origin Irish families Irish writers Irish Brehon families Families of Irish ancestry