Chanel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Chanel

What does the name Chanel mean?

Irish surnames are all based on the Gaelic language native to Ireland. The original Gaelic form of the name Chanel is Ó Conaill. 1

Early Origins of the Chanel family

The surname Chanel was first found in County Limerick where O’Connell was the chief of Hy-Cuilean, a territory south-east of Abbeyfeale, in the barony of Upper Connello near the borders of Cork and Kerry. The O’Connells had their chief residence in Castle Connell. In the twelfth century the O’Connells settled in Kerry. One reference claims that the O’Falvies, admirals of Desmond; the O’Connells, of Kerry; O’Sheas, chiefs of Muskerry, in Cork; and several other chiefs, claim descent from the Clan na Deaga, Chiefs of Munster, originally a branch of the Heremonians of Ulster.

The Cannell variant is “a name peculiar to the Isle of Man, is from the Celtic MacConaill.” 2