Ó Cadhla
Ó Cadhla is a masculine surname in the Irish language. The name translates into English as "descendant of "Cadhla"". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The form of the surname for unmarried females is Ní Chadhla. The forms for married females are Bean Uí Chadhla and Uí Chadhla. The Irish "Ó Cadhla" has numerous Anglicised forms. Etymology. "Ó Cadhla" translates into English as "descendant of "Cadhla"". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer 's father. The personal name "Cadhla" means "beautiful", "comely", "graceful". The Oxford English Dictionary states that the word "quealy" means a high barren place. Feminine forms. "Ó Cadhla" is a masculine surname. The form of this Irish surname for unmarried females is "Ní Chadhla"; this name is actually a contracted form of "Iníon Uí Chadhla", which translates into English as "daughter of "Ó Cadhla"". The form of "Ó Cadhla" for married females is "Bean Uí Chadhla", which translates into English as "wife of "Ó Cadhla""; this surname can also be represented in the contracted form "Uí Chadhla". Anglicised forms. According  to the early 20th century Irish etymologist Patrick Woulfe, "Ó Cadhla" has been Anglicised variously as "Kiely", "Keily", "Kealy", "Kieley","Keely", "Keeley", "Kelly", and "Quealy". According to the Irish late 19th century genealogist John O'Hart, the surnames "O'Cawley", "MacCawley", and "Cawley" are also Anglicised forms. Families. According to Patrick Woulfe, the Irish surname is borne by two noted Irish families. One family were chiefs of Connemara. The other family were chiefs of Tuath Luimnigh, near the city of Limerick. Woulfe noted that descendants of both families lived in the Irish provinces of Connacht and Munster.