Skelly
An Irish surname probably meaning “descendant of the story-teller,” though some sources note confusion with related forms like Scully and Scally.
The #7,958 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 74,271 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The strongest historical explanation treats Skelly as an Anglicized form of Irish O'Scolaidhe, meaning a descendant of the “story-teller” or historian. The Gaelic base is usually linked to scéal, “story” or “tale,” with an occupational sense for someone who preserved and recited tradition. Some 19th-century writers also suggest occasional confusion or blending with closely related surnames such as Scully and Scally.
History
The name is especially associated with Ireland and appears in older Irish surname lists in forms such as Scally/Skelly and related spellings. Manx and Irish antiquarian sources describe it as an established Gaelic surname, and one source notes it was once common in parts of the Isle of Man, though later less widespread. In modern usage it is found chiefly in Irish diaspora communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
One historical source says the original Gaelic meaning points to a professional court storyteller, an official role in old Irish society.
From the historical record
“O.E. scMh, crooked -)-Aor«, a horn, corner] SKELLY (Celt.) St^ry-Teller, Historian \\x. Scialaidhe (=Ga.e\. sgeulaiche), i. sc^al (also sc^ul), O.Ir. sc^l, a story, tale -|- the pers. suff. -aidhe] There seems to have been some con- fusion with Scully, q.v. SKELTON (Eng.) Bel. to Skelton— a Northern”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)