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Research Notes: Per Fr. Francis O'Hara:
In Gaelic Sept Maps, O'Shelly is placed among the septs of County Cork. Dr. Edward MacLysaght, former Chief Herald of Ireland and recognized authority on Irish Family names, states that "the distinguished O'SEALBHAIGH which is anglicized SHELLY in its homeland. Co. Cork is Shallow in Co. Tipperary. It is Shalloo in Co. Clare." O'Sealbhaigh is a Corca Laoidhe Sept. Other variants of the name are Shally and Shalvey. In the early 1800's the spelling was generally changed from Shelly to Shelley; but, it still occurs in both forms in Ireland and in Newfoundland. If the second "e" is missing, this does not mean that there is no relationship. The name is even found spelled Shiley in Newfoundland and all of these variations simply resul from poor education and pronunciation. (It must be further noted that according to the authoritative O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees, one of the ancient Cahill Sept of County Tipperary was called Tomhas na Sealbuidhe and this name was also anglicized as Shelly) In the 1890 birth census for Ireland, most of the Shellys were born in Dublin and Tipperary. In current Phone books, most Shellys are found in Co. Tipperary.