O'Reilly (Irish: Ó Raghallaigh) is a group of families, ultimately all of Irish Gaelic origin, who were historically the kings of East Bréifne in what is today County Cavan. The clan were part of the Connachta's Uí Briúin Bréifne kindred and were closely related to the Ó Ruairc (O'Rourkes) of West Bréifne. O'Reilly is ranked tenth in the top twenty list of Irish surnames.
It is also the patronymic form of the Irish name Reilly (Irish Gaelic: Uí Raghaile). It is commonly found throughout Ireland, with the greatest concentration of the surname found in County Cavan followed by Longford, Meath, Westmeath, Fermanagh and Monaghan, and the Province of Leinster.
It is usually anglicised as Reilly, Riley and O'Reilly. The original form of the name, Ó Raghallaigh, denotes "from/of Raghallach", the name Raghallach thought to be derived from the compounds ragh (meaning "race") and ceallach (meaning "sociable").
The Ó Raghallaigh family were part of the Connachta, with the eponymous Raghallach said to have died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. The family became the kings of East Breifne, modern-day County Cavan and County Longford.
The name is common and widespread throughout Ireland, ranked 8th most common in 1890 and 11th in 1996.
People with the surname O'Reilly include:
Alejandro O'Reilly (1722–1794), second Spanish governor of colonial LouisianaBernard O'Reilly (1903–1975), located the wreck of a Stinson aircraft in the McPherson Range, Australia, 1937Bernard O'Reilly (bishop of Hartford) (1803–1856), Roman Catholic bishopBernard O'Reilly (bishop of Liverpool) (1824–1894), Roman Catholic bishopBill O'Reilly (1949–), American commentator and television show host of The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News ChannelBill O'Reilly, Australian cricketerBob O'Reilly, Australian rugby league footballerCaitriona O'Reilly, poet and criticCal O'Reilly, Canadian ice hockey playerCameron O'Reilly, Irish and Australian businessmanCharles O'Reilly (died 1800), Roman Catholic Bishop of Kilmore from 1798 to 1800.Danny O'Reilly, Lead singer of Irish band, The CoronasDavid O'Reilly, several people includingDavid O'Reilly, film director and artistDavid J. O'Reilly, Chairman and CEO of Chevron CorporationDermot O'Reilly (1942–2007), Singer and songwriter in band Ryan's Fancy, contributed strongly to the Music of Newfoundland and Labrador.Des O'Reilly (1954–2016), Australian rugby league playerEmily O'Reilly, Irish journalistEmma O'Reilly, Irish physiotherapist and cycling soigneur, bullied and sued by Lance Armstrong.Finbarr O'Reilly, Canadian photographerGary O'Reilly, English footballerGenevieve O'Reilly, Irish actressHeather O'Reilly (1985–), American soccer playerHugh Reily (1630–1695), Irish M.P. and political authorIan O'Reilly, (1999–), Actor "Moone Boy"James Reilly (Canadian politician) (1835–1909), Canadian businessman and politician from AlbertaJames O'Reilly, American Roman Catholic priestJohn Reyly (recte O'Reilly) (c.1646 – 17 February 1717) was an M.P. for Cavan County (Parliament of Ireland constituency) in the Parliament of Ireland of 1689, known as the Patriot Parliament.John O'Reilly, Leader of The Saint Patrick's Battalion of MexicoJohn O'Reilly (1940–), Canadian politician from OntarioJoseph O'Reilly, Irish politicianKyle O'Reilly (1987–), ring name of Canadian professional wrestler Kyle GreenwoodLeonora O'Reilly, an American feministLuke O'Reilly (disambiguation)Mary Margaret O'Reilly, Assistant Director of the United States Bureau of the Mint from 1924 to 1938Margaret M. O'Reilly (1962– ), Irish-born, American art curator, New Jersey State MuseumMatthew O'Reilly, Irish politician and farmerPeter O'Reilly (civil servant) (1827–1905), settler and official in the Colony of British ColumbiaPeter O'Reilly (hurler) (1902–1940), Irish hurlerPhilip O'Reilly (c.1600–1655), M.P. for County CavanPhilip Og O'Reilly (c. 1640–1703) was an M.P. for Cavan Borough in the Parliament of Ireland of 1689, known as the Patriot Parliament.Philip Reyley (recte O'Reilly) (b. c.1630 – d. after 1689) was an M.P. for Cavan County (Parliament of Ireland constituency) in the Parliament of Ireland of 1689, known as the Patriot Parliament.Randall C. O'Reilly (1967–), professor of psychology, developer of LeabraRobert O'Reilly (1950–), American actorRyan O'Reilly (ice hockey) (1991–), Canadian ice hockey playerRyan O'Reilly (wrestler) (1980–), American professional wrestlerSamuel O'Reilly (19th century), American inventorStephen O'Reilly, American actorStephen O'Reilly, Australian footballerTerry O'Reilly, hockey playerTom O'Reilly (1915–1995), Irish Fianna Fáil politicianTim O'Reilly (1954–), founder of O'Reilly MediaTom O'Reilly (1915–1995), Irish gaelic footballer and politicianTom O'Reilly Irish Sinn Féin politicianTom O'Reilly, Papua New Guinea internationalTony O'Reilly (1936–), Irish businessmanValli O'Reilly, Makeup artistWalter Cresswell O'Reilly (1877–1954), Australian Commonwealth Film Censor and founding President of the National Trust of AustraliaO'Reilly Lords of Bréifne c.1161–1607Christopher O'Riley (born 1956), American classical pianist and public radio show hostDon O'Riley (1945–1997), Major League Baseball pitcherBunny Wailer (born 1947), reggae musician sometimes known as Bunny O'RileyJon Riley (1824–1879), US army deserter also known as John O'RileyAaron Riley (born 1980), American mixed martial artistAli Riley (born 1987), American-born New Zealand soccer playerAndy Riley (born 1970), British writer and cartoonistArthur Riley (born 1903), South African footballerAudrey Riley, English cellistB. Daniel Riley (1946–2016), American politicianBennett C. Riley (1790–1853), American military governor of California before it became a US stateBernard Riley (born 1981), American football playerBill Riley (born 1950), Canadian ice hockey playerBilly Riley, English catch wrestling instructorBilly Lee Riley (1933–2009), American musicianBen Riley (born 1933), American jazz drummerBob Riley (born 1944), American politician, Governor of AlabamaBob Riley, founder of race car company Riley & ScottBob C. Riley (1924–1994), American politician, briefly Governor of Arkansas in 1975Boots Riley, American vocalistBridget Riley (born 1931), British op-art painterBridgett Riley (born 1973), American boxerBurke Riley (1914–2006), American state legislatorCharles Owen Leaver Riley (1854–1929), the first Anglican Archbishop of PerthCharles Valentine Riley (1843–1895), American entomologistCharley Riley, American boxerCharlotte Riley (born 1981), English actressChris Riley, American USL Second Division soccer playerChris Riley (golfer) (born 1973), professional American golferChris Riley (priest) (born 1954), Australian Priest and prominent youth workerChristopher Riley (born 1967), English writer and film makerDaniel Aloysius Riley (1916–1984), Canadian politicianDave Riley, American musicianDelbert Riley, Canadian First Nations leaderDenise Riley (born 1948), English professor of literatureDorothy Comstock Riley (1924–2004), American lawyer and judgeDoug Riley, Canadian musicianEric Riley (born 1970), American basketball playerFrank Riley, American athleteFreida J. Riley (1937–1969), American math and science teacherGary Riley (born 1963), American actorGillian Riley (born 1945), English writer and authority on Italian cuisineGina Riley (born 1961), Australian actor, writer, singer and comedianGwendoline Riley (born 1979), English writerHarold Riley (artist) (born 1934), English artistHarold William Hounsfield Riley (1877–1946), Canadian politician from AlbertaHayden Riley (1921–1995), American college sports coachHerbert D. Riley (1904–1973), United States Navy admiralHerlin Riley (born 1957), American jazz drummerHerman Riley (1933–2007), American saxophone playerIsaac Riley (1852–1926), Canadian politicianIvan Riley (1900–1943), American Olympic athleteJack Riley (actor) (1935–2016), American comedian and actorJack Riley (ice hockey b. 1910) (1910–1994), Irish ice hockey playerJack Riley (ice hockey b. 1919) (born 1919), Canadian ice hockey playerJames Riley (Captain) Captain of the American merchant ship CommerceJames Riley (soccer player) (born 1982), American soccer winger for the New England RevolutionJames Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916), American writer and poetJason Riley (journalist) (born 1971), American journalistJeannie C. Riley (born 1945), American country and gospel music singerJim Riley (American football) (born 1945), American football playerJo Riley or Josephine Riley (born 20th century), UK writer, translator, actor, specialised in Chinese theatreJoe Riley (artist) (1964–2007), US artist, special effects artist, SubGeniusJoe Riley (hockey) (1923–1976), US ice hockey playerJoe Riley (rugby league), British rugby league footballerJohn Riley (poet) (1937–1978), English poet associated with the British Poetry RevivalJohn M*A*S*H. Riley (1947–1994), American attorney and railroad transportation administratorJohn J. Riley (1895–1962), American politician, US Representative from South CarolinaJohn P. Riley, Jr. or Jack Riley (born 1920), American ice hockey coachJon Riley (1805–1850), Irish-American US Army officer who deserted to fight for Mexico in the Mexican warJonathon Riley (athlete) (born 1978), American middle- and long-distance runnerJonathon Riley (British Army officer) (born 1955), British Army officerJoseph Albert Riley (1869–1940), South Australian sports administratorJoseph Harvey Riley (1873–1941), US ornithologist, Smithsonian InstitutionJoseph P. Riley, Jr. (born 1943), US politician, Charleston mayorJulia Riley, English astrophysicistKaron Riley (born 1978), American football playerKen Riley (born 1947), American football playerKent Riley, English actorLarry Riley (actor) (1952–1992), American actorLawrence Riley (1896–1974), American playwrightLawrence Joseph Riley, American Roman Catholic bishopLisa Riley (born 1976), English actress and broadcasterMalcolm Riley (born 1960), British musician and authorMarc Riley (born 1961), British musician, critic, and disc jockeyMark Riley (American radio host) (born 1951), American radio hostMark Riley, Australian television presenterMartin Riley (basketball) (born 1954), former Canadian basketball playerMartin Riley (cricketer) (1851–1899), Yorkshire cricketerMartin Riley (footballer) (born 1988), English professional football defenderMatt Riley (born 1979), American baseball playerMelanie Riley (born 1968), British businesspersonMichael Riley (born 1962), Canadian actorMichael Riley (artist) (1960–2004), Australian artistMike Riley (born 1952), American college football coachNancy Riley (born 1958), American state senatorPat Riley (born 1945), American professional basketball coachPatrick T. Riley, American political theoristPaul Riley, Scottish actor and comedianPeter Riley (born 1940), English poetQuintin Riley (1905–1980), British Arctic explorerRachel Riley (born 1986), English television (Countdown) presenterRaven Riley (born 1986), American adult-film actressRichard Riley (born 1933), American politician, Governor of South Carolina 1979–1987Rob Riley (disambiguation)Ronald Riley (born 1947), Australian Olympic field hockey playerRuth Riley (born 1979), American basketball playerRyan Max Riley (born 1979), American humorist and skierSam Riley (born 1980), English actorSamantha Riley (born 1972), Australian swimmerSean Riley (American football) (born 1974), American football playerSteve Riley, American accordionist, singerSteve Riley (drummer) (born 1956), American drummerTalulah Riley (born 1985), English actressTeddy Riley (jazz) (1924–1992), American jazz trumpeterTeddy Riley (producer) (born 1967), American producer, singer, songwriter, and musicianTerry Riley (born 1935), American composerThomas Riley (disambiguation)Trevor Riley (born 1948), Australian judgeVictor Riley (born 1972), American football playerWayne Riley (born 1962), Australian golferWilliam Riley (disambiguation)Fictional people:
Mr. O'Reilly, Fictitious Irish character/builder portrayed by the Irish actor David Kelly on the episode "The Builders" from Fawlty TowersRiley family, fictional family in TV series One Life to LiveAloysius Umbongo N'Danga O'Reilly, fictitious character in the song "Baguette Dilemma for the Booker Prize Guy" by the band Half Man Half Biscuit on their 2014 album Urge for OffalJoe Riley, leading protagonist of the family on the showJoe Riley (James Dunn), in the movie The Golden Gloves Story (1951)Joe Riley (Eddie Quillan), in the movie Jungle Raiders (1945)Kevin Riley, recurring junior officer character in Star Trek: The Original SeriesCpl. Scott Riley, character in Call of Duty: United OffensiveO'Reilly Auto Parts, an American chain of automotive supply storesO'Reilly Media (formerly O'Reilly & Associates), an American media companyBaba O'Riley, a song by The Who
