Gaelic dynasty

Kinsella

Cinnsealach

Also: Kinsela

“of the Uí Cheinnsealaigh — the royal line of south Leinster”

🏔 Wexford · Loch Garman 🏔 Carlow · Ceatharlach 🏔 Wicklow · Cill Mhantáin Source: Wikipedia ↗

The sept's historic heartland, highlighted. People moved — a name can be found far from home.

The story

One of the very few Irish surnames with no Ó or Mac: it is the dynasty name itself. The Kinsellas descend from the royal house of Diarmait Mac Murchada, the king whose invitation brought the Normans.

Their world Around 1170 — The Norman Invasion. In May 1169 a few hundred mail-clad adventurers land at Bannow Bay, at Mac Murchada's invitation.

See them on the atlas ↗

What the name is made of

Cinnsealach
No prefix: the name stands on its own word.

Find this form in the Irish-to-English index → · What Ó and Mac actually mean

Is Kinsella an Irish name?

Kinsella is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here.

The five answers, and why it is rarely yes or no →

From Wikipedia — “Kinsella”

Kinsella is a surname of Irish origin, developed from the original form Cinnsealach, meaning "proud". The Kinsella sept is native in part of the modern County Wexford in Leinster, a district formerly called the Kinsellaghs. The oldest documentary mention of the surname appears in the Ancient Records of Leinster, dated to 1170, where the son of the King of Leinster is named as Enna Cinsealach. Originally pronounced KIN-səl-ə, it is also often found pronounced kihn-SEL-lə.

Read the full article ↗ · Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Neighbours — other names from the same counties

Cullen · Wicklow, Wexford Doyle · Wexford, Wicklow Kavanagh · Carlow, Wexford Kehoe · Wexford, Wicklow Nolan · Carlow, Wexford Brophy · Carlow Byrne · Wicklow Cody · Wexford Connery · Wexford Darcy · Wexford Devereux · Wexford Doran · Wexford Esmonde · Wexford French · Wexford

Quick answers

Is Kinsella an Irish name?

Kinsella is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here. In Irish the name is Cinnsealach.

What does the surname Kinsella mean?

Kinsella (Irish: Cinnsealach) means “of the Uí Cheinnsealaigh — the royal line of south Leinster”. Origin: Gaelic dynasty.

Where in Ireland is the surname Kinsella from?

The historic homeland of the Kinsella name is Wexford, Carlow, Wicklow. People moved, so the name can be found far beyond it.

What is the Irish for Kinsella?

Cinnsealach. Related spellings: Kinsela.

Looking for the Kinsella family crest? Read this first — arms belong to people, not surnames, and the honest version is more interesting. Tracing Kinsella ancestors? The step-by-step guide.

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