Many people wonder if the American actresses Kelly Lynch and Jane Lynch are related in any way. They both have the same last name, Lynch, which is a common Irish surname. They also have similar careers in Hollywood, appearing in various films and television shows. However, despite these similarities, the two actresses are not related at all. They are not sisters, cousins, or distant relatives. They just happen to share the same last name, Lynch.
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The origin of the surname Lynch
According to Ancestry.com, the surname Lynch is derived from the Gaelic word “O Loingsigh”, which means “descendant of Loingseach”. Loingseach was a personal name meaning “mariner” or “seafarer”. The surname was originally used by several families in different parts of Ireland, especially in Galway and Clare
The surname Lynch is also found in England and Scotland, where it may have a different origin. It may be derived from the Old English word “hlinc”, which means “ridge” or “hill”. It may also be a variant of the surname Linch, which is derived from a place name meaning “boggy stream”
The ancestry of Kelly Lynch and Jane Lynch
Kelly Lynch was born on January 31, 1959, in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Her parents were Barbara, a modern dancer, and Robert Lynch, a restaurateur. Her father was of Irish descent, his parents having come from Sonnagh, near Charlestown and Culduff, Killasser, near Swinford both in County Mayo respectively. Her mother was of Irish and Swedish ancestry
Jane Lynch was born on July 14, 1960, in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Her parents were Eileen, a homemaker-secretary, and Frank Lynch, a banker. Her father was of Irish descent, his parents having come from County Mayo as well. Her mother was of Irish and Swedish ancestry as well
Both actresses have traced their Irish roots through genealogy websites and DNA tests. Kelly Lynch visited Ireland in 2017 and met some of her distant relatives there. She also learned that she is related to the famous Irish poet William Butler Yeats through her maternal grandmother Jane Lynch also visited Ireland in 2011 and explored her family history there. She discovered that she is related to the Irish revolutionary Michael Collins through her paternal grandfather
The careers of Kelly Lynch and Jane Lynch
Kelly Lynch started her acting career with a small job at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. She then worked as a flight attendant and a model before landing her breakthrough role in the film Cocktail (1988). She went on to star in other films such as Road House (1989), Drugstore Cowboy (1989), Curly Sue (1991), Virtuosity (1995), Charlie’s Angels (2000), and The Jacket (2005). She also had recurring roles in the television shows The L Word (2004-2009) and Magic City (2012-2013)
Jane Lynch began her acting career with the Second City comedy troupe in Chicago. She then appeared in several films directed by Christopher Guest, such as Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). She also had supporting roles in films such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), Role Models (2008), Paul (2011), and The Three Stooges (2012). She became famous for her role as Sue Sylvester in the musical comedy series Glee (2009-2015), for which she won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award . She also hosted the game show Hollywood Game Night (2013-2020) and had recurring roles in the television shows Two and a Half Men (2004-2014), Criminal Minds (2006-2020), The Good Fight (2017-2022), and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-present)
The conclusion
Kelly Lynch and Jane Lynch are two successful actresses who share the same surname but are not related by blood. They both have Irish ancestry but from different branches of the Lynch family tree. They both have similar careers but in different genres of film and television. They both have visited Ireland and learned more about their heritage but have not met each other there. They are both talented and respected in their fields but have not worked together on any project. They are both Lynches but not sisters.