Surname Corney - Meaning and Origin
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Corney: What does the surname Corney mean?
The last name Corney is of English and Irish descent and is derived from the Latin name Cornelius, meaning "horn," and literally translates to a "corny" or "horny" person. The name is most likely to have stemmed from an ancestor with horns or a horn-like feature, although some historians suggest the family was of Norman origin and related to British royalty.
The name Corney is a unique and rather uncommon surname in the United States, with the highest concentration located in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. Moreover, records indicate there are fewer than 3,000 Corney households in the entire world.
Originally, the surname was found in several different spellings, such as Corney, Korney, Korny, Kornie, and Curney. Soundex codes used by the United States Census Bureau also suggest the names Kenneday, O'Korny, and Corny as potential variants of Corney.
Although the precise meaning of this surname is unclear, its origin as a name related to horns or horn-like features is likely. The name Corney is part of a unique heritage and is a reminder to be proud of one's roots and keep track of one's family name.
Order DNA origin analysisCorney: Where does the name Corney come from?
The last name Corney is most commonly found today in England, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is an anglicized version of the Irish and Scottish surname MacFhionghuine, which means “son of Finnguine". The MacFhionghuine name dates to medieval Scotland and Ireland.
Within the United States, Corney is most heavily concentrated in Massachusetts, with additional populations in New York, California, and Illinois. In Canada, it is common in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario. In Australia, it is mainly found in New South Wales and Victoria. In the United Kingdom, the name is most popular in England and Northern Ireland.
Corney is mainly an occupational surname, since it derives from the old Gaelic word for 'smith'. This Michael, or MacFhionghuine, was likely an ironworker or blacksmith, making tools and goods from iron. From this origin, it is thought to have spread across the British Isles and eventually to the United States with Irish immigration. The Corney name has since become a common patronymic across much of the English-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Corney
The surname Corney has a number of potential variants, spellings, and associated surnames. Corney itself is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from Old English 'corona' meaning 'raven'. Other variants of the surname include Corny, Cornie, Cornay, de Corney, Corneye, and Corneyar.
Forms of the surname found in medieval documents include 'Corone', 'Cornay', 'Corona', 'Corna', and 'Cornea', as well as some French forms such as 'de Corney'. In Ireland there is a variant of the surname known as 'Cornay'.
There are also a number of associated surnames: 'Corney', 'Croney', 'Cornette', 'Corneille', 'Cornill', 'Corneau', 'Corneilleau', 'Cornell', 'Corney', 'Crony', 'Cronney', 'Cornelissen', 'Cornies', 'Cronin', and 'Korney'.
The surname is also likely to have been corrupted over time to a number of other forms, such as 'Korn', 'Crone', 'Karn', 'Garn', 'Kerney', and 'Gregory', which may thus represent the same origin as the Corney surname.
All of these variants and associated surnames have the same origin as the Corney surname, but many of them may no longer be used today.
Famous people with the name Corney
- Lily Corney: singer-songwriter and former talent show winner, best known for her 2018 hit single “Wildfire”
- William A. Corney: English mathematician and educator, best known for his work on number theory
- Edward Corney: British Arctic explorer, part of several Royal Navy expeditions in the 19th century
- Elliot Corney: Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne City FC
- Tom Corney: British actor, best known for his roles in films such as Bridget Jones’s Baby and Alien: Covenant
- Michelle Corney: Canadian model and humanitarian, most recognized for her work as a UNICEF Ambassador
- Jennifer Corney: British author and historian, best known for her works on the Royal Navy
- John Corney: American politician, former Governor of the state of Massachusetts
- Ernie Corney: British journalist and entrepreneur, most famous for creating and managing one of the most popular independent sports newspaper in the UK
- Robert Corney: American businessman and philanthropist, founder and president of the Corney Family Foundation