McNally is a surname of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Conallaigh meaning 'son of Cú Allaidh', one of several old Irish words for a wolf, composed of cú (hound) and allaidh (wild).^[1][2][3][4]

The McNallys descend from Conchobar mac Conallaigh, an ephemeral 12th century chieftain of the Northern Uí Néill’s Cenél Moan in County Tyrone and Donegal. Indeed, according to Ó Ceallaigh, in Ulster it has nothing to do with the Mayo name Mac an Fhailghigh, adopted by descendants of Normans who were called failgheach (hermit or peasant).^[4]

Notable people

• Andrew McNally (1836–1904), American co-founder of Rand-McNally
• Caty McNally (born 2001), American tennis player
• Charles McNally (born 1787), Irish bishop of Clogher
• James McNally (1836–1921), Irish fenian convict
• John McNally (1932–2022), Irish olympic boxer
• Keith McNally (born 1951), New York restaurateur
• Kevin McNally (born 1956), English actor
• Leonard McNally (1752–1820), Irish barrister, playwright and spy
• Luke McNally (born 1999), Irish footballer
• Mark McNally (born 1971), Scottish footballer
• Paddy McNally (born 1937), Irish businessman
• Shane McNally (born 1954), Australian rugby coach
• Shannon McNally (born 1973), American singer-songwriter
• Stephen McNally (1911–1994), American actor
• Terrence McNally (born 1939), American playwright
• Tom McNally, Baron McNally (born 1943), British politician
• William McNally (1894–1976), British soldier and Victoria Cross recipient
• Zena McNally (born 1979), British radio presenter and model