Surname Kinnerney - Meaning and Origin
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Kinnerney: What does the surname Kinnerney mean?
The last name Kinnerney is believed to be of Irish origin. The surname likely derives from the Gaelic "Kin," meaning "family," combined with one of two monikers. One option is the Gaelic "an Fhearnaigh," meaning "descendant of Fearnaigh"; the other is the Gaelic "O' Ceanirne," meaning "descendant of Ceanirne."
The Kin side of the name could be indicative of a family-oriented past, suggesting a background in which kinship and lineage were prominent. In the case of the O’ Ceanirne version, the name likely refers to people descending from a particular Irish ancestor named Ceanirne; this could be a good indication that the Kinnerney family has a rich and meaningful ancestral history.
The current spelling of the name is believed to have evolved over time, likely due to the influence of the English language during their journey to the United States and other countries with larger Irish populations.
In addition to Ireland, Kinnerney may also be a surname prevalent in areas of Scotland, Australia, and Canada. Regardless of where the name originated, the Kinnerney family is thought to have had a long-standing connection to Irish culture and is likely still treasured by many.
Order DNA origin analysisKinnerney: Where does the name Kinnerney come from?
The last name Kinnerney is most commonly found in Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in England and Scotland. The name originates from Ireland and appears most frequently in Southern Ireland, especially in County Cork. Kinnerney is an anglicised surname derived from the Gaelic O'Coinneirghe, meaning “descendent (O') of Coinneirghe”. Coinneirghe was a personal name which means “small helmeted one”. The name is thought to be derived from the Gaelic cuinneog, meaning helmet.
The surname is also found in the United States, particularly areas in New Jersey and New York with large Irish populations. There are families of the name now living in Ireland, England, Scotland, the United States, Australia and Canada.
Kinnerney can be found in many other locations around the world, but it is still relatively rare. It is not a particularly common surname, but it is far from being unheard-of. In a study of surnames conducted in Ireland in 1997, Kinnerney was among the top 500 surnames in the country.
Variations of the surname Kinnerney
The surname Kinnerney has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. A few of these include Kinney, Kinny, Kinneary, Kinnary, and Kinnery.
The name Kinney is the most common variant of Kinnerney. It is derived from the Irish surname O Coinnigh, which means ‘from the head of the hill’. There is also a variant of the name Kinne, which is derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Uí Ceallaigh.
The surname Kinneary stems from the Scottish surname Mac Cineaird, which means ‘descendant of the warrior’. It is most commonly found in Scotland and is of Norse origin. The variant Kinnary is most likely derived from the Scottish surname Mac Cinningham, which is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Coindense.
The surname Kinnery is derived from the Scottish surname Mac Coineri, which means ‘son of the hospitable one’. This surname is most common around Scotland and Northern Ireland.
No matter the spelling or variant, all of these surnames are variants of Kinnerney and are derived from either Irish, Scottish, or Norse origins. Many of these variants have also been Anglicized over the years, so there may be additional spellings available.
Famous people with the name Kinnerney
- Joe Kinnear (born 1946): is an English football coach and former player.
- Lorna Kinnerney (born 2008): is an American child actress, best known for her role in the horror film The Conjuring 2.
- John Kinnerney (born 1849): was an American artist who worked in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Rick Kinnerney (born 1959): is an American actor, best known for his role on the television show Friends.
- Michael Kinnerney (born 1971): is an American entrepreneur and investor.
- Paul Kinnerney (born 1941): is an American composer and songwriter.
- Mary Louise Kinnerney (born 1956): is an American actress, known for her roles in the television series The X-Files and My Name Is Earl.
- Robert Kinnerney (born 1965): is an American television producer and writer.
- Heather Kinnerney (born 1970): is an American film director and screenwriter.
- David Kinnerney (born 1945): is an English politician, serving as the Member of Parliament for North West Durham.