Surname Loney - Meaning and Origin

Loney: What does the surname Loney mean?

The last name Loney is an English and Scottish topographic name for someone who lived on or near a slope or a hill, derived from the Old English word “hlun” which meant hill.

It could also be a habitational name from a place named with this word, such as Lonley in Lancashire, or Luny in Derbyshire. In some instances, Loney could be derived from the Gaelic word “lon” meaning a marsh or an area of damp low-lying ground.

Loney could also be an Americanized spelling of the German surname Loni or Lohney. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German elements “luon” meaning pleasure, or from the Old High German word “luck” meaning treasure.

The Loney surname is found mostly in the North American regions of Canada and the United States. It is most common in Ontario, Canada and in the Midwestern states of the US. The variants of the surname include Looney and Lony.

The earliest record of the Loney surname in the Scottish registers dates back to 1228 when Oswald de Luny was listed in the Baliol Roll.

The Loney surname is not particularly common, but those who bear it may fare well; as it is said to be a symbol of one's strength in character, and a representation of hard work and dedication in all aspects of life.

Loney: Where does the name Loney come from?

The last name Loney is most common today in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the name is most concentrated in the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland. In the United Kingdom it is most common in the counties of London, Devon, Kent, and Surrey. In Canada, the name is most common in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.

The last name is believed to have come originally from Ireland, where anglicized surnames like Loney were adopted in the 12th century in an attempt to conform to British rule. It may have been an adaption of the Gaelic name Ó Luain, which translates as "descendant of Luain", or "follower of Luan". It is also possible that the surname Loney originated in Scotland, where variations of the name Lowe and Lowryn are quite common.

Today, the name Loney is often associated with families of British or Irish ancestry who trace their family histories back to the Middle Ages or earlier. The name has helped to carry forward an ancient Celtic lineage that is shared by many people today.

Variations of the surname Loney

The surname Loney is derived from the English language and is of locational origin. It is derived from the Old English word lōn, meaning "woodland clearing" or "meadow". Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Loney include Lony, Lone, Loane, Lonegan, Looney, Luney, Lewney, Loveney, Lunney and Luoni.

Loney is primarily found in Ireland, particularly the northern counties of Antrim and Armagh. It is also found with greater frequency in Scotland, particularly in Ayrshire and the Highland counties. The surname can also be encountered in both England and America.

In Ireland, the surname Loney is derived from the Gaelic phrase O Loingsigh, which literally means "descendant of Loingseach". Loingseach is a personal or first name stemming from the Gaelic words for "lynx" or "merchant".

In many instances, the Gaelic form or version of this surname is seen as Lunny, Looney or Lunney. It is also found in both its original forms and as a 'localised' variant derived from places bearing the same name, for example Lumnah in County Longford.

In Scotland, the surname is believed to have evolved from the practice of defining people as they related to certain geographical locations or areas. Because of this, variants of the surname Loney abound in Scotland, including the spellings Lowney, Lownie, Lownay, Lowne and Lowen.

By revisiting the original geographical location of Loney, additional surnames with the same origin can be discovered. Examples of these surnames include Lownyan in Ireland and Lowney in Scotland. There are even places in the United States with the name Loney, such as the towns of Loney, Iowa and Loney Creek, Virginia.

Famous people with the name Loney

• Andee Loney: professional basketball player for the New York Liberty in the WNBA.
• Mitchell Loney: former professional Australian rules footballer and actor.
• Deon Loney: American former professional gridiron football running back.
• Jenifer Loney: American actress who is best known for playing the role of Laura Brown in the Fifty Shades of Grey film franchise.
• Reiko Loney: singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California who found success in Latin music genre.
• Marcus Loney: professional soccer player for Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids.
• John Loney: Canadian businessman and former accountant whose career spanned more than 20 years.
• Kiran Loney: singer and songwriter from Tamil Nadu, India.
• Daisy Loney: English actress, known for her roles in the television shows Doctor Who and Peaky Blinders.
• Matthew Loney: former English professional footballer who played as a defender.

Other surnames

LoneLonerLonerganLonergane

Comments or additions to the name "Loney"

16.03.2024
James A. Loney (1984) is a former Major League Baseball player and currently a post game broadcaster for the LA Dodgers.