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ArchivesReilly/Riley
I know these two names are pronounced the same, but are they really from the same source? BtN only has Riley listed, as an Old English name meaning "rye clearing". From some other website though, I have seen Reilly as Irish Gaelic for "outgoing people". I just wondered if they are really from the same source or two different names. If they are the same, does anyone know the history behind them, which is older, etc.?
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Hmm. I don't know, but Dunkling's name dictionary that I have says Riley was used as a first name since the 1840's but never Reilly (although this dictionary's from 1983 so that's no longer true). It also says that Riley is from an Irish surname meaning 'valiant', and that surname Reilly is just a spelling variant.
Since BtN lists Riley / Ryley / Ryeley etc as an English surname with a particular meaning, there must be a source that says that's what it is; and Reilly is probably a different, Irish name (as in O'Reilly). But I'm just guessing.
- chazda
Since BtN lists Riley / Ryley / Ryeley etc as an English surname with a particular meaning, there must be a source that says that's what it is; and Reilly is probably a different, Irish name (as in O'Reilly). But I'm just guessing.
- chazda
This message was edited 10/30/2004, 7:20 PM
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