Surname Cuneen - Meaning and Origin
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Cuneen: What does the surname Cuneen mean?
The surname Cuneen has a disputed meaning; some theories suggest it is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Irish surname Mac Eoghain meaning ‘son of Eoghan’- Eoghan being the Irish form of the Gaelic name ‘Owen’. Others believe it is derived from an old Gaelic word ‘cunneòin’, translated as ‘a corner’ or ‘nook’. The name can also be found in Scotland, where it is thought to be derived from the ancient Pictish-Gaelic personal name 'Cuneden' meaning ‘hound den’.
The name Cuneen appears to have originated in the region on the border of Tyrone and Antrim in Northern Ireland before spreading elsewhere. The earliest recorded evidence of the name is on a gravestone on the Iveragh peninsula in Kerry, Ireland, showing William Cuneen’s death in 1734.
The surname is still popular in the Gaeltacht region around Donegal and parts of Cork, where it has had its own independent history. The Cuneens of Donegal were originally patrons of the O’Donnells, an ancient Irish Gaelic ruling family.
From the 17th century Cuneens have spread elsewhere in the world, particularly to the United States., Australia, Canada and England. It is likely that most Cuneen families around the world trace their heritage back to the original Gaelic bloodlines of Ireland and Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisCuneen: Where does the name Cuneen come from?
Cuneen is a rare Irish surname, which is believed to have originated in either County Limerick or County Galway, two counties in the Republic of Ireland. Historically, the name may have been derived from an Irish word meaning "cupboard". The name can still be found in these two counties today, as well as in some regions in neighbouring Northern Ireland.
Cuneen is particularly common in the rural areas of County Limerick, primarily made up of small villages and farming communities. The Cuneens living here today are descended from a branch of the O'Connell family that settled in County Limerick in the 1400s. The O'Connells were a family of powerful Lords and landowners, and the Cuneens are believed to have been a branch of this large family.
Elsewhere in Ireland, the Cuneen surname can also be found, although at a much lower frequency than in County Limerick. Census records indicate that the name is far more uncommon than similar Irish surnames such as O'Connell or O'Connor. Outside of Ireland, Cuneen is an uncommon surname, however there are some individuals living in the United States and Canada who can trace their ancestry back to families that emigrated from Ireland.
Variations of the surname Cuneen
The surname Cuneen is derived from the Irish Ó Cuinneáin, which means "descendant of Cuinneáin". The anglicized spelling of the surname is Quinane, Quinan, Queenan, Queenin, Quineen, Cunane, Cuneen, Cunen, Queeney, Cuney, Quinney, Cuna, and Quine.
The Irish surname Ó Cuinneáin is derived from the given name Cuinneáin, which comes from the Old Irish word cuana. The literal meaning of the term cuana is "hound of the plain". It is believed that the surname originated from the Connacht province in Ireland due to the frequency of the surname in that area.
The variants of the surname Cuneen are commonly seen in New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. With Irish immigration after the Irish Famine, many individuals and families associated with the Cuneen surname spread to different parts of the world.
The variants of Cuneen can also be found in the Netherlands and other countries in Europe. Of all the variants, Quinney, Quinan, and Queenan are generally more popular and have become easier to trace through genealogical databases.
The spelling of Cuneen has also changed over time. Initially being spelled as Ó Cuinneáin, then as Cunane, Cuneen, and Cunen. Some common mispronunciation of the surname is Kween and Kuneen, due to the Irish Gaelic pronunciation being unfamiliar to English speaking individuals.
Famous people with the name Cuneen
- Rob Cuneen: An American hockey coach and General Manager of the Bismarck Bobcats
- Margaret Cuneen: An Australian sculptor and painter
- Ann Cuneen: An Australian films writer, director and producer
- Marty Cuneen: An American television and film director
- Rex Cuneen: An American composer and songwriter
- John Cuneen: An American poet and playwright
- Thomas Cuneen: An Australian film producer
- Lewis Cuneen: An Australian journalist
- Peter Cuneen: An American television producer, director and writer
- Gary Cuneen: An American radio and television producer.