Tully

Tully is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin, and spelling variations include; Tally, Talley, Tilly, MacTully, MacTilly, MacAtilla, O'Multilly, O'Multully, MacCantully, and Flood. These names are anglicisations of the following Irish names; Ó Taithligh, Ó Maoltuile, Mac Maoltuile, Mac Taichligh, and Mac an Tuile. Mac an Tuile is a corruption of Mac Maoltuile, and has also been anglicised as Flood due to "tuile" in Irish meaning "flood". Distribution As a surname, Tully is the 3,489th most common surname in Great Britain, with 3,147 bearers. It is most common in Oxfordshire, where it is the 150th most common surname with 1,719 bearers. Other concentrations include, Cheshire, (280th, 1,715). Ulster According to John O'Hart, the Tully's, in the form of the Muintir Taithligh (extended-family of Tully), were chiefs of the Hy-Laoghaire of Lough Lir. This district was near the barony of Lurg, close to Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. MacLysaght states that "Tally" and "Tully" are anglicisations of a sept called O'Taithligh located near Omagh, County Tyrone, and that they were erenaghs of Devenish, which lies in western County Fermangh. Woulfe connects these two as being the same also citing that their name originates from Ó Taighligh (also spelt as Ó Taichligh) meaning "descendant of Taithleach", with Taithleach meaning "quiet, peaceful". The Annals of Tigernach make mention of a Fland mac Máele Tuile who was the son of Maeltuile Ua Crunnmaeil. Fland is cited as chief of the Cenél nEógain and belonged to the Cenél Feradaig. Maeltuile was the son of Crundmáel mac Suibni, who had also been chief of the Cenél nEógain.