Surname Yanney - Meaning and Origin
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Yanney: What does the surname Yanney mean?
The last name Yanney is thought to be a variant of the Irish last name MacKeane, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Cathain meaning "son of the warrior" or “son of Cathan”. The first Yanney recorded in the United States is thought to be David Yanney, who sailed to America from Ireland in 1737.
The Yanney name is believed to be of both Irish and Scottish origin. Depending on the area of origin, many varied forms and spellings of the Yanney name have developed, such as Yanny, Yanney, Yenny, Yenny and Yenguy. The Irish pronunciation of the name is usually YAHN-ee or YEN-nee, while the Scottish pronunciation is usually YEN-ey.
People who carry the name Yanney come from many different ethnic backgrounds and have made a mark in various fields, such as sports and politics. The Yanney name is associated with families coming from Ulster, the northernmost province of Ireland. On the other hand, there are also some records that illustrate the presence of the Yanney surname in England and Wales since the 12th century.
In general, this surname is believed to denote a person or family who is hardworking, reliable and ambitious — traits that are still true of many Yanney families today. Thus, the last name Yanney is typically synonymous with characteristics of strength, determination and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisYanney: Where does the name Yanney come from?
The surname Yanney is of Welsh origin and is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. The United States of America has the highest overall population of Yanneys, with the majority of Yanney families living in the eastern states such as New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.
In the US, Yanney family members are primarily descended from Welsh immigrants who settled in the area during the 1800s. Many Yanneys have also emigrated to Canada where they are most commonly found in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta. Yanney family members in the UK are primarily clustered in cities or areas that were historically part of the Welsh Marches.
Yanney is also a popular surname in Mexico, in particular in the states of Chihuahua and Durango. The surname is believed to have the Spanish variant "Yáñez", and is likely descended from families who trace their ancestry to Spain.
Thus, Yanney is a surname that is widely dispersed around the globe. Its geographic distribution largely reflects the emigrations of Yanney family members from Europe and the United States, as well as the influx of Spanish immigrants to Mexico. That said, the surname remains most prominent in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Yanney
Variants of the surname Yanney can include Yanny, Annane, Annney, Anney, Yanney, Yanni, Yannay, Yannie, and Yanny. All of these surnames share a much older Germanic origin through the name ‘Johannes’.
Johannes is the Latin form of the Greek name ‘Iōannēs’. It is most commonly associated with the New Testament figure John the Baptist. It translates to either ‘Yahweh has favoured’ or ‘God is gracious’ and remains in use to this day as both a given name and surname. These various spellings of the senior ‘Yanny’ would often form in different countries where they migrated.
The name Annane is an anglicized derivative of French spelling, Annane, while Yanni and Yannay are popular Greek spellings of the name. Anney is the English version of the Germanic spelling, Annay, and Yannie and Yanny are Anglicized spellings of the German and Dutch name Johanne.
These spellings all originate from the same source. They were often used among other dialects, which resulted in numerous spelling variations of the surname. Yanny is the most common spelling in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, while Yanni is the most common spelling in Greece.
Famous people with the name Yanney
- Flora Yanney: Flora Yanney is a professional dancer and choreographer who is originally from Ghana and currently based in London. She is the founder of Blazin Artistry, which offers African art and culture-based classes and workshops to all ages and backgrounds.
- Alice Yanney: Alice Yanney is an inspiring entrepreneur and digital marketing expert. She has worked with a variety of small businesses in the Los Angeles area and has been highlighted on the blog One Woman Project for her work in empowering women through digital skills.
- Chris Yanney: Chris Yanney is an American hip-hop artist and rapper from Chicago. He is an independent artist who has released five albums to date, and his music has been featured on radio stations across the US.
- Ryan Yanney: Ryan Yanney is a former professional basebal player. After playing for multiple college teams, he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2006. He spent six seasons in Major League Baseball before retiring in 2012.
- Matt Yanney: Matt Yanney is an experienced technology leader and entrepreneur. He has held executive roles at companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and LinkedIn. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of a health and fitness start-up called MyFiziq.