Surname Kinnavane - Meaning and Origin
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Kinnavane: What does the surname Kinnavane mean?
The last name Kinnavane is an Irish surname that traces its roots to the Gaelic name Mac Fhionnabhain, derived from the words fionn and abhan, meaning ‘fair-haired one’. In English, this name could mean either someone with fair hair or someone fair-minded. The use of Mac as a prefix suggests the name may have originally been the surname of a clan, or group of families descended from one ancestor, and the name passed down from generation to generation.
The earliest record of people using the last name Kinnavane dates back to the 1600s in County Clare, Ireland. It is possible that the original ancestors of the Kinnavane family were once warriors, as is suggested by one tradition that has the family defending the ‘Grianán of Aileach’, an ancient fort in County Donegal. The fort is now an important part of Irish culture and history, so the family’s defense of it means their commitment to their people and culture is remembered.
Kinnavane is now a well-established Irish surname, found across many parts of Ireland and elsewhere in the world. Wherever they are, members of the Kinnavane family can take proud of their ancestors who not only embraced their Gaelic roots and defended their culture, but also created a unique surname that has been passed down through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKinnavane: Where does the name Kinnavane come from?
Kinnavane is a surname that is mainly found in Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom. It is believed to have originated from County Cork in the south of Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic language.
Kinnavane is a fairly uncommon last name, with records only being found in parts of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
In Ireland, the surname is mainly confined to the counties of Cork, Down, and Armagh. It is also found in the North and South Wales and throughout the Channel Islands in the UK. It has not been found in England, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
Despite its rarity, there are some notable individuals with the Kinnavane surname. These include James Kinnavane, who was an Irish nationalist leader and founded the Scottish Catholic Association in 1849 and William Kinnavane, who was an Irish politician in the 17th century.
The surname has also been adopted by the Kinnavane family in the United States who are of Irish descent. This family are mainly based in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the US.
The spelling of the surname also differs from region to region, with some people in Ireland opting for the alternative spelling "Kinnavane".
Overall, Kinnavane is a rare surname and is found mainly in certain parts of Ireland and the UK, with a few outliers elsewhere. It is an interesting name, with some notable individuals attached to it, and has been adopted and modified by some families in the US as well.
Variations of the surname Kinnavane
Kinnavane is an Irish and Scottish surname which derives from the Gaelic surname of 'Ceann a Bhain'. It can be found spelt in different ways, but the most common variants include: Kennaway, Kinaway, Kinnaway, Kynaway, Kynnaway and Kinnawane.
In Ireland, the name Kennaway is most commonly found in Counties Cork, Clare and Limerick, while in Scotland, the name is most commonly found in Ayrshire.
Other alternative spellings and surnames associated with the name Kinnavane include Kineavy, Kynavy, Kynewey, Kinawe, Kynavee, Kenevey, Kynniw, Kinivey, Keeneve, Keneive, Kinach and Kyneby.
Some of the variants and surnames can also be found with the prefixes Mac, Mc, or O, e.g. O’Kinnavane, MacKinnavane and McKinnavane.
The name Kinaway was first recorded in the 1400s in Galway, Ireland, when the Irish Annals noted that a Donal O'Keenawey donated a rood of land to the monastery of Aashee in 1494.
The 1904 book "Irish Names and Surnames" traces how Kinnavane in Ireland was descended from the ancient Irish clann or sept of O'Kinnavain, an important and powerful Norman-Irish family based in County Mayo.
The surname can also be found in other places such as Canada, Australia, USA, and England, though generally it is very rare today.
Famous people with the name Kinnavane
- Bill Kinnavane- Irish author, stand-up comedian, actor, and broadcaster.
- Leonard Kinnavane- 19th-century Australian politician.
- Aidan Kinnavane- Irish actor and writer.
- Sarah Kinnavane- American television writer and producer.
- Peadar Kinnavane- former member of Irish Free State Dáil Éireann.
- Patrick Kinnavane- 18th-century member of Parliament of Ireland.
- Elenore Kinnavane- American actress and producer.
- Sam Kinnavane- former Australian Olympic basketball player.
- Clyde Kinnavane- former bailiff and court clerk from Cornwall, England.
- Rina Kinnavane- 19th-century English-born Canadian immigrant.