Surname Coony - Meaning and Origin
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Coony: What does the surname Coony mean?
Derived from the Irish surname "Ó Cuana," Coony is a patronymic name, referring to someone who is a descendant of Cuana. The name Cuana itself has an uncertain origin, but it is believed to potentially mean "elegant, good, handsome." Like other Irish surnames, Coony began to be used during the eleventh century when the creation of a system of hereditary surnames began. It's also significant in Irish histories as it belonged to a number of important figures, including clerics and scholars. While the surname remains most common in Ireland, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to emigration patterns.
Order DNA origin analysisCoony: Where does the name Coony come from?
The surname Coony is of Irish origin, deriving from the Irish Gaelic surname "O'Cuana," which translates as "descendant of Cuana." Cuana itself is an old Irish personal name. Over time, due to cultural and linguistic changes, it has evolved into its current form - Coony.
This last name is not highly common and is spread sparsely across the globe. The most significant concentrations of people with the Coony surname are found in the United States and Ireland today. Other areas with notable occurrences include England, Canada, and Australia. However, it remains relatively rare even in these countries, signifying a small diaspora of Irish heritage.
It's worth noting that the presence of the Coony surname in countries other than Ireland mainly results from immigration, particularly during periods like the Great Famine in the mid-19th century when many Irish people relocated to English-speaking countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Coony
The surname Coony has several variants and could be linked to different origins. Alternate spellings include Cooney, Coonie, Couney, Cuny, and Coon. Other variants could include Connay, Coonay, and Cunny.
Its most common variant, "Cooney", is of Irish origin from the Gaelic name "O'Cuana", which was a patronymic name meaning "descendant of Cuana", with "Cuana" meaning "handsome" or "elegant".
However, the spelling "Coony" could also be a variant of the German surname "Kuhne", an occupational surname for a bold or audacious person.
In some cases, it might be a variant spelling of the French surname "Cuny", originating from the Lorraine region in France and derived from a pet form of the personal name Cono or Kuno, meaning 'bold counsel'.
It might be worth considering that variations in spelling for surnames can occur for numerous reasons such as translation between languages, phonetic spelling, and regional dialects. Therefore, tracing its exact origins might sometimes be challenging.
Famous people with the name Coony
- Gov. Tony Evers:the current governor of Wisconsin
- Jared Coonie: former Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Judge Barbara Lynn Coony: the former chief judge of the Circuit Court Cook County, Illinois
- Don Coony: comedian, actor, and filmmaker
- Charles Coony: Canadian actor and filmmaker
- Chuck Coony: American guitarist and collaborator
- Rufus Coony: Nigerian front-man songwriter and producer
- Junkyard Coony: Irish singer and songwriter
- Phil Coony: professional tennis player from 1935-1950
- Sarah Coony: British art director and designer