Surname Keherney - Meaning and Origin
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Keherney: What does the surname Keherney mean?
The last name Keherney is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic surnames “O Cearnaigh” and “O Ciarain”, both of which mean “descendant of Cearnach,” or “belonging to Cearnach”. The Cearnach referred to is thought to have been a leader of a tribe in the Leinster region of Ireland during the Middle Ages.
The O’Cearnaighs of Co. Wicklow are said to have descended from the powerful early Irish Kinsella family. The Kinsellas were a ruling family, claiming their authority from the 5th to the 13th centuries. The family is believed to have had strong connections to the ancient MacMurroughs of Leinster.
The prefix "O" or "Mac" before the Keherney surname is a term of respect that implies direct descent from this powerful medieval leader. It is sometimes translated to mean "son of" or "descendent of". This term is most commonly used in Ireland. In other areas it may be spelled as Keherney or Kearney.
The Keherney surname is most abundant in the regions of Leinster and Cork in Ireland. However, those bearing the name have migrated to other countries in recent centuries. This makes the Keherney surname very common today, and it can be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisKeherney: Where does the name Keherney come from?
The Keherney surname is believed to have come from Ireland and Irish is the majority population that bear this surname today. Keherney is primarily Irish in origin and can be found in the Connaught province of Ireland with its highest occurrence being in the counties of Galway and Mayo. Research suggests that this surname could be derived from ‘Ó Catharnaigh’ which is Gaelic for ‘son of Catharnach’.
Keherney is also common around the world and especially the United Kingdom due to Irish emigration. Those with the surname of Keherney are found in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Emigration to the United States is also common and today it is found in US states such as California, New York, North Carolina and Texas.
Today, there are an estimated 1,500 people who utilize the surname Keherney around the world, with the majority being in Ireland, followed by the United Kingdom and United States. The majority of Irish bearers of the Keherney surname today are found in the native Irish population of Galway and Mayo, and there are records dating back to 1636 which attest to the existence of the surname prior to the potato famines of the mid 19th century that caused millions to emigrate across the world.
Variations of the surname Keherney
The surname Keherney is most likely of Irish origin. It is a surname that is very uncommon in the United States, as it is only seen in just a few families. However, this surname has quite a few variants and spellings, making it more common in Ireland.
The variants and alternate spellings of the surname Keherney can include:
O'Kearney, O'Karney, Kearney, Kherney, Kerney, Kaherny, Kaherne, Karney, Karney, Kariny, Cearney, Cearny, Kearny, Kearnye, and Kehrney.
The surname can also be found in many other Irish derivatives, such as:
Kearnan, Kearnanne, Cearnan, Cearnanne, O'Kearnan, O'Karney, O'Kerney, O'Karney, O'Cearney, O'Cearny, O'Kariny, O'Cearny, O'Kearny, O'Kearnye, and O'Kehrney.
The various spellings and variants of the surname Keherney result in its widespread presence across Ireland and around the world. While not commonly found in the United States, there are some families with the surname Keherney, most of whom can trace their families back to Ireland. The majority of these families are likely to contain ancestors from various spellings of the surname, as they all stem from the same original surname.
Famous people with the name Keherney
- Kitty Kelley: Investigative journalist, author, and biographer
- Liam Kelleher: Professional surfer
- John Kelleher: U.S. Representative from Massachusetts
- Robert Kelleher: Former U.S. District Court Judge
- William J. Kelleher Jr.: Former Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management
- Mary Kelleher: Irish-born fiction writer and illustrator
- Jack Kelleher: Writer, poet, and editor
- Zoe Kelleher: Professional gambler and blogger
- Richard Kelleher: Guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter
- Sean Kelleher: Irish rugby player