Surname O'Loony - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
O'Loony: What does the surname O'Loony mean?
The surname O'Loony is an Irish surname derived from the Irish Gaelic surname "Ó Luinigh". O'Loony translates to "descendant of Luinigh" in Gaelic. The Gaelic prefix "Ó" means "grandson" or "male descendant of".
The origins of the O'Loony surname are found in the roots of ancient Irish history. As early as the 12th century, the O'Loony family was recorded in British and Irish records. The ancient Irish kingdom of Meath was home to a notable sept named O'Luanadha, anglicized to O'Loony. This sept is believed to have descended from the powerful and respected Ulster king Ui Neill.
The O'Loony family is believed to have been a powerful sept in the area of County Louth in Leinster. During the 1600s, some members of the O'Loony family were not recognized by British authorities as free Irish citizens and were encouraged to emigrate or leave the country.
In modern times, the O'Loony surname is most common in Ireland and is considered to be a part of the "O" group clan of surnames that descended from the Ui Neill. Centuries later, descendants of the O'Loony family settled in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia.
The O'Loony surname is an important reminder of the strong Irish heritage that many people in the world share. It is a source of pride for many O'Loony descendants, and a reminder of the turbulent history of the Emerald Isle.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Loony: Where does the name O'Loony come from?
The last name O'Loony is found largely in Irish-speaking or historically Irish-speaking regions, such as Ireland itself, the United States, and Australia.
In Ireland, the name O'Loony first appears predominately in County Galway, where many of the original members of the family are believed to have first settled. This could have been as early as the 12th century, when families from the south of Ireland moved north in search of new lands. The family then spread out to the rest of Galway, as well as to nearby counties, such as Mayo, Sligo, and Roscommon.
In the United States, O'Loony is most commonly found in Irish-American communities, especially on the East Coast. New York City and Boston are two cities with a significant population of Irish-Americans, the descendants of the same immigrants who arrived in Ireland centuries ago. The cities of San Francisco and Chicago also have large Irish-American populations, as do other cities with large Catholic populations, such as Philadelphia and Baltimore.
In Australia, O'Loony is found mainly in the states of Victoria and New South Wales, both home to large Irish-Australian populations. Many of these families are believed to have originally arrived in Australia during the 19th and early 20th century, during the major waves of Irish immigrants who settled in the country.
Today, the last name O'Loony continues to be found in its traditional regions as well as in other parts of the world, especially among those of Irish descent. While the majority of O'Loony families live in the countries mentioned above, it is possible to find the name in other countries around the world as well.
Variations of the surname O'Loony
The surname O’Loony is a variant of the Irish O’Laoghnach and O’Laochdha which is derived from the Old Irish Gaelic personal name ‘Laogh’ which means ‘warrior’. As a result, there are several variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin.
The most common spellings and variations are O’Lunney, O’Loonay, O’Luny, O’Leney, O’Leny, O’Leamy, O’Lamay, O’Lamy, O’Lenehoe, and O’Leonehoe. The Irish variants O’Laoghnach and O’Laoghdha can also be seen as O’Loughan and O’Loughney, as well as the Gaelic spelling O’Laoghne.
In addition, other surnames that may have the same origin as O’Loony are O’Luney, O’Lunny, O’Lawney, O’Lawny, O’Linney, O’Linny, O’Lean, O’Lane, and Lahey. The surname is also recorded with further variants such as Luney, Lunney, Leaney, and Laney.
The variants of this surname are usually found in the counties of Kerry, Cork, Galway and Longford in Ireland, with other variants being found in various anglicized forms throughout Ireland. As a result, the spelling, pronunciation, and surname can vary depending on the region where the surnames are found.
Famous people with the name O'Loony
- Michael J. O'Loony: American professional basketball player in the NBA
- Brendan T. O'Loony: Irish actor and comedian, known for his role in the movie Mayfly and the sitcom Irish Cream
- Luce O'Loony: Professional figure skater and Olympic medalist
- Brigid O'Loony: Politician and Member of the Irish Parliament
- Thomas O'Loony: Legendary American athlete, winner of 10 NCAA championships
- Declan O'Loony: Irish folk singer and songwriter
- John J. O'Loony: American broadcast journalist and talk show host
- Thomas O'Loony: Major League Baseball player who made two All-star game appearances
- Sebastian O'Loony: Businessman and philanthropist, chairman of the O'Loony Foundation
- Kayleigh O'Loony: Rock musician and producer, known for her work with U2 and The White Stripes