Surname Feiney - Meaning and Origin

Feiney: What does the surname Feiney mean?

The last name Feiney is an Irish surname, originally derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Fiannaidhe," which was a descriptive name meaning "descendant of Fionnadh." This was the name of a personal given name meaning "blond" or "fair-haired."

The Feiney family was part of the larger Ó Fiannaidhe population in Medieval Ireland, living primarily in Connacht and Munster provinces. It was one of the few families that was able to reestablish itself after the Norman invasions, with several branches of the family surviving and remaining dominant in certain areas.

The Feiney family is now an important part of the Irish diaspora, with people of the Feiney name living all around the world. Those with the last name Feiney still have strong ties to their Irish roots. People with this surname are often Irish nationalists and pride themselves on their roots.

For those with the surname Feiney, it’s important to remember the rich, ancient history behind the name. It can remind them of a proud tradition of struggle, resilience, and courage in the face of oppression.

Feiney: Where does the name Feiney come from?

The last name Feiney is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, Feiney is the 582,539th most popular name. In England, the last name is ranked as the 37,848th most popular.

In the United States, the states with the most people named Feiney are California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Massachusetts. The highest concentration of people with the last name Feiney can be found in the South-East region of the country, particularly in Georgia.

In Canada, the last name is the 4,759th most common. It is most common in the Province of Ontario, especially in the cities of Toronto, Ottawa, and London.

In Australia, the surname makes up .0004% of the population, boasting the rank of 24,909th in the nation. While there are people with the surname Feiney all over Australia, most are concentrated in Victoria.

In Ireland, Feiney is ranked as the 7,829th most popular last name. Counties in which it is most common include: Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Mayo, and Tipperary.

Lastly, Feiney is the 14,667th most common surname in the United Kingdom. In that country, the last name is most commonly found in Northern Ireland, especially in the counties of Belfast, Armagh, Antrim, and Derry.

Variations of the surname Feiney

Feiney is a surname of Irish origin, also spelled Feeny, Feney and Fenney. It is derived from the Irish surname O'Finide, which in turn derives from the Gaelic personal name “Fionn”, meaning fair or white.

Feiney is a common surname in Ireland and may also have been adopted by Irish immigrants to the United States. In America, it is often spelled “Fenny” or “Feeny”.

The Feeney spelling was used in various parts of the United States, primarily in the midwestern and western states, such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and Texas. It is not as commonly used in other parts of the country, but can be found in other states such as Virginia, Massachusetts, and Arizona.

Variant spellings of the Feiney surname include Feayne, Fein, Fienay, Finey, and Finney. These variants can be found outside of Ireland, such as in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Other surnames of similar origins are O'Finn, O'Flynn, O'Flaherty and O'Farrelly. These variants derive from the same personal name “Fionn”.

Overall, Feiney is a popular surname with many variant spellings, likely due to its wide-spread use in both Ireland and the United States. Additionally, many other surnames of similar origin still exist and are historically connected to the Feiney surname.

Famous people with the name Feiney

• Ryan Feiney: An American collegiate basketball player currently playing with the Purdue Boilermakers.
• Maeliosa Feiney: A director and screenwriter from Ireland.
• David Feiney: A Canadian actor and comedian, well known for his role in hit series, 'Slings and Arrows'.
• John Feiney: A former Australian professional footballer who played with the Geelong Football Club.
• Robert Feiney: An Australian artist whose work is well-known internationally, and he is most renowned for his surrealist watercolour paintings depicting animals.
• Sarah Jane Feiney: A Canadian artist who has exhibited her work in galleries around the globe and is known for her abstract expressionist and surrealist style.
• Dan Feiney: An artist and designer from the United States, popular for his unique oil paintings of portraits and landscapes.
• Tony Feiney: A British film producer, best known for producing the cult classic 'A Room with a View'.
• William Feiney: An Irish writer and playwright whose work has been performed in well-known theatres worldwide.
• G. Feiney: An American theologian and professor, well known for his books on Roman Catholicism and the writings of Bernard of Clairvaux.

Other surnames

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