Surname Kaney - Meaning and Origin

Kaney: What does the surname Kaney mean?

Kaney is a surname of English origin. It is derived from the Gaelic surname Keney, which is a diminutive form of the masculine given name Cennétig. It means little Ken or little Kenneth.

The earliest known Kaney family in England originated in the county of Devon during the 12th century and the name is still found mainly in that county. It is possible that the Kaney family was related to the ancient Celtic tribe of the Cantiaci who occupied the area in Roman times.

Kaney is also a very popular surname in Ireland, where it is found mainly in Ulster and County Waterford. It may have been brought to Ireland by the Anglo-Norman settlers during the 12th and 13th centuries, although the earliest known reference to the name in Ireland dates to the late 15th century. In Ireland, the Kaney family, like many other English families, became Hibernicized and today the name is most often spelled Kenney or Kenny.

The Kaney surname can be found in several other countries as well, including Scotland, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In these places, the Kaney surname can often be seen in a slightly altered spelling, such as Kany, Kainey or Keney.

Kaney: Where does the name Kaney come from?

The last name Kaney is most common in the United States, where it ranks 2,174th in popularity according to surname statistics from the US Census Bureau. The states with the highest prevalence of the name are Texas, Arkansas, Georgia and Tennessee. There is also a significant population of people with the last name in Florida, Alabama, Virginia, California and Illinois. Further, Kaney is a popular name in England and is estimated to be the 34th most common surname there.

The etymology of the name Kaney is believed to be of Irish origin, and the name is thought to have derived from the Gaelic surname O'Cahan, which means "descendant of Cathan". The Irish variant of this name is Kane, which is the original form of the surname. The spelling of the name has changed over time, leading to both Kane and Kaney as variant spellings.

Kaney is a popular name in the Southern United States due to its popularity among Irish immigrants who settled in the region centuries ago. Arguably, the name is most associated with the American South today, although people with the last name can be found around the world.

Variations of the surname Kaney

Kaney is a surname of English origin, originating in the kingdom of England before the Norman Conquest in 1066. This name derived from the name of the town of Kayni in the county of Lincolnshire, derived from the Old English word kayni, meaning ‘longago.’ Variants of Kaney include Kainy, Kany, Kaeny, Caney, Cayney, and Cayney.

Derivative surnames of Kaney, based on variations and spelling of original surname, may include: Kainey, Cayne, Kainaey, Kainey, Keyney, Keyne, Kainy, Kaeney, Kainny, Kaenie, Keany, Caynie, Keeny, Kaeny, Caney, Keenie, Cayney, Cainy, Kane, Kehney, Cayny, and Cane.

In addition to the English variants, there are some Irish forms of the surname. These include Kitchen, Keenan, O'Cain, Koney, Kana, and Kainn. There are also some less common Italian, Czech, and German versions, such as Cerny, Holub, Kauna, and dekane.

Due to its long and widespread use around England, the Kaney surname is now found across many countries and continents. It can be found in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland, as well as in parts of Europe, the United States, Australia, and Canada.

Famous people with the name Kaney

• David Kaney: Former vice president of the Fox Movie Channel and a philanthropist who helped found the United Way of Los Angeles.
• Bill Kaney: An American radio host, best known for his show "The Kaney Show" on KABC in Los Angeles.
• Robert Kaney: An Afro-Cuban Grammy-winning singer and songwriter known for the hit, "Goodnight My Love."
• John Kaney: A multi-talented jazz musician and producer who changed the shape of jazz music.
• William Kaney: an American television producer, writer, and director who worked on shows like Sliders and Diagnosis Murder.
• Daniel Kaney: A British writer, producer, director and lyricist who has written extensively for the stage.
• Ben Kaney: An award-winning film producer and musician from Scotland whose credits include feature films and television series.
• Jake Kaney: An American actor, writer, director and producer best known for his work on the Amazon Original Series, I Love Dick.
• Gary Kaney: A Canadian-born professional ice hockey player who played 527 games in the NHL.
• Catherine Kaney: An American poet and author who is known for her collections of poetry, “The Book of Memories” “Poems from the Heart” and “Walking in a Fog.”

Other surnames

KaneKanet