Surname Reany - Meaning and Origin

Reany: What does the surname Reany mean?

The last name Reany is an Irish surname originating in County Meath, where the ancestral home of the Reany family can still be found today. The Gaelic version of the name is O’ Righne, meaning “descendant of Righne”. The name Righne is derived from the Old Norse personal name Ragnhildr, meaning "wise in battle". This suggests that the Reany ancestors were brave and daring warriors.

The Reany surname is familar throughout all of Ireland, but is primarily concentrated in the north-central part of the country, including counties Dublin, Louth, Meath, Cavan, and Monaghan. It is believed that the Reany family trace their roots to the ancient kingdom of Tara which was located in the area of Meath.

As a family name, Reany is representative of the storied history of the Irish people and their enduring spirit in the face of adversity. It reflects their determination, courage and sense of community that are integral parts of the Irish character.

Reany’s have gone on to contribute to the global landscape in many ways; from musicians and actors to entrepreneurs and politicians. The name embodies the centuries old message that people from all walks of life can achieve greatness with a little hard work and dedication.

Reany: Where does the name Reany come from?

The last name Reany is most common today in the United States, though it can also be found in parts of Central and South America.

In the United States, the last name Reany is most concentrated in the Southeast and Midwest. It is particularly common in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. In Illinois, Reany is the 20,767th most popular last name, while in Pennsylvania and Michigan, it is the 24,283rd and 15,717th most popular respectively.

Reany is also found in parts of Canada, Mexico, and Honduras. In Mexico, the last name Reany is the most common, where it is the 1,335th most popular surname.The last name is also found in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and El Salvador, but is not overly common.

The last name Reany is likely an anglicized version of the Gaelic Irish name O’Riain, which originated in County Tipperary, Ireland. O’Riain was an anglicized version of the original reanach, which references a boundary-keeper or marshal. As such, many branches of the Reany family likely had the same vocation in olden times.

Variations of the surname Reany

Reany is an Irish surname of Gaelic-origin. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic spelling, which was O Riain. The most common variations and spellings of this name include O'Reaney, O'Riain, Reaney, O'reany, Reany, Rynne, Reenan, Reeney, Riain and Ryne.

The Irish version of the name originally belonged to the prominent O'Riain clan of County Laois, Ireland, and is derived from the Gaelic surname O'h-Riaghain, which translates to "descendant of Ríghain". This was the old Gaelic name for a man of high king or noble status. Over time, the O'Riain clan scattered and the name eventually spread throughout Ireland, as well as parts of Scotland and the US.

The variations and surnames of Reany are the result of the long and rich history of the Irish language and the linguistic changes that occurred due to mass migration. As the Irish began to settle in different countries and continents, they adapted their surnames to reflect the changing political, social and cultural environment in which they found themselves.

In some parts of Ireland, the Reany surname is also known as Reenan, Reece or Rees. In Scotland, it evolved into Renne, Rennie and Rennison. In the US, variations of the name include Reaney, O'Reeny, Reece and Ryne. Some anglicised spellings in the US include Reaney, Reany, Reeney and Rynne.

The Reany surname is still found around the world today, though it is most common in the British Isles, particularly in England, Scotland and Ireland. The name is both quite old and reminds us of the rich history of Irish surnames.

Famous people with the name Reany

• Dermot Reany: Irish television personality and host of the game show Winning Streak, also known for presenting the ball-dance game show The Rich List and the RTÉ reality show Ireland’s Fittest Family.
• Richard Reany: British medical doctor and professor from Hull Royal Infirmary, who helped develop the first CT scanner in the UK.
• Tom Reany: American classical theoretical and mathematical physicist, credited with helping create the atomic bomb, as part of the Manhattan Project.
• Jimmy Reany: English football defender who played in the Football League for Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth.
• Felix Reany: French artist known for his illustrations of 19th century Paris, now housed in the Carnavalet Museum.
• John Reany: Accountant, managing director and member of the general court of the East India Company during the early 19th century.
• Monica Reany: Editor-in-Chief of New York City's The Village Voice from 2008 to 2009.
• Bernard Reany: British trade unionist and Labour politician who served as Member of Parliament for Chippenham from 1945 to 1950.
• Harper Reany: American screenwriter and director for television and film, known for her work on HBO's Big Little Lies and ABC's Grey's Anatomy.
• Deb Reany: Australian Paralympic tennis player whose career highlights include reaching the semi-finals of the Wheelchair Women’s Doubles at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.

Other surnames

ReaneyReanier