Surname Kinniry - Meaning and Origin
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Kinniry: What does the surname Kinniry mean?
The last name Kinniry is an Irish name of Gaelic origin. It is an Anglicized variant of the Irish name "Ó Ceanndubháin" which means "descendant of Ceanndubháin". This is a personal name formed from the Gaelic root word “ceann”, which means “head”, and the patronymic element “dubháin”, meaning “black” or “dark". This could refer to a person with a dark complexion, dark hair, or dark clothing.
The name is quite rare and is found mostly in Ireland but can also be found in other countries with Irish diaspora populations such as Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It is primarily associated with County Clare in Ireland.
The surname is associated with a few families in Ireland who are known as the O’Kinnirys of Killnetagh. They were once prominent landowners in the region. Some of the Kinnirys supported the Irish Rebellion of 1641, which attempted to give Ireland independence from England.
Despite its Irish origin, the surname has also spread to some countries in Europe, such as Germany and the Netherlands.
In summary, the surname Kinniry is of Gaelic origin which means descendant of “Ceanndubháin” and is mainly associated with Ireland. It is mostly found in countries with Irish diaspora populations as well as some parts of Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisKinniry: Where does the name Kinniry come from?
The surname Kinniry is most commonly found in Ireland today. It is a surname of Anglo-Norman origin, derived from the Gaelic given name Mac an Uidhir ("son of Odhar/Odhr"). The surname is especially concentrated in the counties of Dublin, Cork, Wexford, and Down. It is further noted as a surname in England, Ireland, and the United States, though it is not very common in any country.
In Ireland, Kinniry is most commonly pronounced KEN-ih-ree. In the United States, it is commonly pronounced with the second syllable sounding more like "reer", KEN-ih-reer. Its derivatives are most commonly found in the Sof-Frankin family of spelling variants, with Commonadh, Keniry, Kinneary, Kinnerella, Kinnerey, Kinneery, and Kynnery also noted.
The Kennedys of modern fame can trace their ancestral roots back to O'Kennedy Ua Cinneide, an Irish tribal leader of the 16th century who had the surname "O'Cinneide" which in English translates to "Kinniry". It is possible that the Kennedy's Anglicized version of the name originated from the Kinniry surname.
Variations of the surname Kinniry
Kinniry is a surname of Irish origin. It is believed to be derived from either the Irish O’Cearnaigh, which means descendant of Cearnach, or the Irish Ó Cionnaith, which means descendant of Connacht.
Variants of the surname Kinniry include Kinnery, Kiniry, Kinairy, Kennary, Kinearie, Kennerie and Kinneery.
The variants of the name Kinniry are still pronounced as the same, but are often seen with different spellings due to regional variations. A few different spellings of this surname from historical records include Kineary, Kinorsy, Kinnery, Kineary, Kennaery and Kinneery.
Other surnames that are derived from the same origin as Kinniry are Cearnaigh, Cionnaith, Cearnach and Connacht.
This surname is commonly seen among the Irish diaspora throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. It is possible that other spellings may exist outside of Ireland, as the surname continues to evolve in different ways around the world.
Famous people with the name Kinniry
- Matthew Kinniry: American film producer, writer, and director best known for his Netflix original American TV shows Ties That Bind and Easy.
- Brendan Kinniry: American singer-songwriter and lead singer of the Chicago-based rock band "The Cold Water".
- Dr. John Kinniry: American physician and oncologist who is affiliated with the Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center.
- Maeve Kinniry: Irish stage, film and TV actress known for work on Riverdance and for her drive to redefine her craft through versatile roles.
- Michael Kinniry: American biomedical engineer and inventor. He currently serves as a senior engineer at Mayo Clinic Rochester.
- Tanya Kinniry: New York-based choreographer and performance artist who has created work for venues such as Shoot the Lobster at the Armory, The New Museum, and the Studio Museum in Harlem.
- Susan Kinniry: American author and journalist based in Dublin, Ireland. She is a contributor for publications such as The Atlantic, The Guardian, The New York Times, Huffington Post, and Irish Times.
- Edmond Kinniry: British actor known for his role in the crime drama The Sweeney.
- Vint Kinniry: Retired American football player, author, and motivational speaker who participated in the 1978 Pro Bowl.
- Matt Kinniry: American comedian and voice-over artist known for receiving the prestigious award “Best Comedic Performance in a Drama” at the 2019 Festival Internacional de Cine de México.