Surname McKenney - Meaning and Origin

Unearthing the Past: A Journey of Discovery into the Cultural and Historical Depth of the McKenney Lineage through iGENEA DNA Test

The iGENEA DNA test allowed me to journey through time to discover the rich and deep-rooted history of my surname, McKenney. The test revealed the story of the McKenneys' migration, showing just how far-reaching the surname now is. It also strengthened the ties to my Irish ancestry, aligning my genetic lineage with the cultural and historical legacy of the Celts.

E. McKenney

McKenney: What does the surname McKenney mean?

The surname McKenney is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "Mac Coinnich," which means "son of Coinneach" or "son of Kenneth." The name Kenneth or Coinneach itself is believed to come from two Gaelic words: 'caoin', meaning 'comely', and 'ceann', meaning 'head'. McKenney is a patronymic surname, a type of surname formed by adding a prefix or suffix meaning 'son of' to an element of the father's name. Thus, someone with the last name McKenney is said to be the 'son of Kenneth'. Over time, the spelling of the name has generated several variations due to regional pronunciations and the transition from Gaelic to English, including McKinney, MacKinney and others. It is a relatively common surname in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and also among Scottish-Irish immigrants in Canada and the United States.

McKenney: Where does the name McKenney come from?

The surname McKenney is of Scottish origin. It derives from the Gaelic "Mac Cionaodha," which translates to "son of Cionaodh," where "Cionaodh" is a personal name meaning "born of fire." The name has been written in various forms over the centuries, including McKenzie, Mackenzie, M'Kenie, and M'Kean, among others.

The expansion of the British Empire led to the dispersion of the name to various parts of the world. With the large waves of Scottish migration to North America in the 18th and 19th century, the name McKenney proliferated in countries like the United States and Canada. Today, the surname can also be found in Australia and New Zealand among others.

Due to the influence of English and Scottish culture worldwide and the following spreading of their surnames, pinpointing where the surname McKenney is most common today based solely on census data is challenging. However, in a broad sense, you will likely encounter this name more frequently in countries that have a strong history of Scottish immigration like the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname McKenney

The surname McKenney is an Anglicized form of a Gaelic personal name, mainly found in Ireland and Scotland. It is mostly derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Coinnigh", meaning "son of Coinneach", or from "Mac Cainnigh", meaning "son of the handsome one". Akin to many Celtic names, there are numerous variant forms and spellings for McKenney due to transliterations from the Gaelic language.

Variations of the surname McKenney may include but are not limited to: McKenzie, MacKenzie, Mckenzie, Mackenzie, Mc Kenzie, Mac Kenzie, MacKenny, McKenny, MacKenna, McKenna, MacKenny, McKenny, Kenny, Kenney, Kennie, MacCainnigh, MacCanney, MacKenny, McKinney, and McKinnie.

Surname origins can be diverse, and surnames may be associated with multiple etymological roots across different cultures and languages. Even within the English-speaking world, surnames can evolve and change their spellings and pronunciation over time. It is also important to note that surnames might have been changed intentionally or unintentionally due to migration, anglicisation, or other factors. Thus, these spellings and their origins should be considered indicative and not exhaustive.

Famous people with the name McKenney

• Seth McKenney: American actor, writer, and producer
• Maureen McKenney: American artist
• Donnie McKenney: American professional wrestler
• Shawn McKenney: American professional mixed martial artist
• Frank McKenney: American modernist painter
• Lannan McKenney: American professional basketball player
• Ted McKenney: American professional ice hockey player
• Heather McKenney: American singer-songwriter
• Jessica McKenney: American professional golfer
• Alannah McKenney: Canadian stuntwoman, co-founder of the Canadian Stunt Association
• Mina McKenney: American actress
• Chase McKenney: American chef and TV show host
• Doug McKenney: American college football player
• Ned McKenney: American football player
• Dave McKenney: English footballer
• Bob McKenney: professional baseball player
• Jim McKenney: American landscape architect
• Andrew McKenney: American state legislator
• Jack McKenney: entrepreneur
• Jonathan McKenney: businessman and philanthropist

Other surnames

McKennaMcKenny