Surname Deeney - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Deeney: What does the surname Deeney mean?
The last name Deeney is thought to be of Irish origin. It is believed to be derived from the old Gaelic Irish name Ó Duinnín, which means "descendant of Duinnín". Duinnín is derived from the Irish word for dark brown, duinin. It may also have links to the ancient Irish deity Donnán, who was associated with the sea, the sun, and death.
The Deeneys were a powerful family in the medieval era and were said to have held large tracts of land in the counties of Tipperary and Kilkenny. They were also known as Deneys, as well as Deneen, Doyle, Doyne and Downey. The family held the titles of The O'Deney, Baron of Urlingford, Count of Kildare, and even Chief of the Name.
The Deeney families had strong links to Royalty, as many of its members held high positions in the Church. In particular, Thomas de Deeney was the Bishop of Ossory from 1417 to 1437. This family also had strong links to military and politics during this period.
Most Deeneys today are scattered all over the world, as well as Ireland, and the United States. It is possible to find the name in genealogical records and search engines. Deeney is an Anglo-Irish name, and there are many people today who carry on the traditions of their Irish heritage, living as proud members of the Deeney family.
Order DNA origin analysisDeeney: Where does the name Deeney come from?
The last name Deeney is of Irish origin and is still fairly common today, mainly concentrated in Northeastern Ireland (Ulster). It is believed to be a variant of the surname Dinneen. The name is most commonly found in counties Donegal, Monaghan, and Fermanagh, but is also present in smaller numbers across Ireland.
There have also been clusters of the surname Deeney across the United States for many decades. The earliest immigrants can be traced back to the late 19th century in Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut. Many immigrants settled in industrial cities as miners, steel workers, factory hands, and blue-collar laborers. Other large concentrations of Deeneys are found today in Ohio, California, Michigan, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
The vast majority of persons with the surname of Deeney are Roman Catholic. The Deeneys have firmly planted roots in the USA and the UK, with the name spelling variations of Deeny and Deane being also found. The name Deeney faces no danger of becoming extinct and is still present in names today across the world.
Variations of the surname Deeney
The surname Deeney has its roots in the Irish surnames Ó Díoma, Ó Duibhíní and Ó Doimnic- all derived from the Irish word ‘díomain’ which means ‘little raven’ or ‘little blackbird’. Variants of this surname include Deney, Deni, Deeny, Deany, Dee, Deeney, Diny, Denney and Dennehy.
The Ó Díoma branch of this surname originates in Connacht, particularly the modern counties of Mayo and Roscommon. The name was borne by several powerful families who were scattered to different parts of the island during the Tudor and Stuart period.
The Ó Duibhíní branch of the Deeney surname is an anglicized version of the Gaelic Ó Duibhíní meaning ‘descendant of blackbird’ and is found mainly in County Clare. The name was borne by members of the O'Deeny family fortunes and is recorded in modern times in the families of the same name.
The Ó Doimnic branch of the surname Deeney is derived from the Irish Ó Doimnic and is found mainly in County Galway. The name was used by members of the O'Dunne family and is recorded in modern times in the families of the same name, both in Ireland and in the United States.
These variants and others are all derived from the original root, ‘díomain’ or ‘little raven’, and have been used to refer to certain families or individuals of the same origin. While spelling may vary depending upon the time, area and individual or family, the meaning of all variants of the surname Deeney remains the same.
Famous people with the name Deeney
- Troy Deeney: professional footballer, currently plays as a striker for Watford FC.
- William Deeney: director of the Zion Early Learning Center in Louisiana.
- Casey Deeney: Irish footballer who plays for Shamrock Rovers.
- John Deeney: former mayor of Camden, New Jersey.
- Paul Deeney: award-winning producer and chief executive at Channel 4.
- Linda Deeney: English actress, best known for her roles in the BBC drama Hotel Babylon and Channel 4's Shameless.
- Dorothy Deeney: professional playwright and theatre manager.
- Sierra Deeney: American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Los Angeles Sparks.
- Danny Deeney: Scottish actor, best known for starring in the BBC sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys.
- Annamarie Deeney: Irish-born singer-songwriter.