Surname Feheney - Meaning and Origin

Feheney: What does the surname Feheney mean?

The surname Feheney is an Irish last name, of Gaelic origin. It originated in County Longford, where it's most commonly found. The surname is derived from the Irish 'Feeny', meaning 'a little fair one'. It is thought to originate from a personal name, 'Fionngheal', a combination of 'fionn' meaning 'fair' and 'gal' meaning 'valour'.

Originally the name Feheney was a Gaelic patronymic surname meaning 'son of Fionngheal', which can now be found as a given name or surname. Feheney is quite rare, making up only about 0.005% of the population in Ireland, and it is not widely found in other countries.

The motto for Feheney is 'Fortiter et Fide' which translates to 'bravely and faithfully'. It is an old family motto, embodying the spirit of the Feheney family in its dogged adherence to its ideals, even in the face of adversity.

The crest of Feheney contains two white unicorns. The unicorns are powerful symbols of protection used in heraldry, and they signify the fealty and bravery of the Feheney family, as well as its ability to defend itself.

Feheney is a proud and noble Irish surname, with a strong focus on loyalty and faithfulness. The motto and crest that accompany the name are symbols that remain to this day, as a reminder of the strength and courage of the Feheney family.

Feheney: Where does the name Feheney come from?

The last name Feheney is common mostly throughout the United States and Ireland today. In the United States, Feheney is most heavily concentrated in two areas: the southern states and the midwestern states, with a smaller presence in the Midwest.

In the southern regions of the United States, the Feheney name is found most prominently in Texas and Louisiana. In the Midwest, the last name is more evenly distributed throughout the region. The easternmost reaches of the Midwest, such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, all have some concentration of Feheney.

The last name Feheney is also common in Ireland, with notable concentrations of the name in counties Cork, Meath, and Donegal. The Irish spelling of the name is often "Feeny", which can be found in different parts of the world as well.

The surname Feheney is also found in other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, England, and Germany. It is also found in other parts of Europe, including countries like Sweden and the Netherlands.

Overall, the last name Feheney is common throughout the United States and Ireland today, and can be found in various parts of the world, including countries in Europe, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Germany.

Variations of the surname Feheney

The surname Feeney is an Anglicization of several Gaelic surnames, namely Ó Fíodhnaigh, Mac Fíodhnaigh, and Ó Fíadhnaigh. While the surname Feeney is mainly associated with the County Mayo region of Ireland, there is still some debate as to its ultimate origins.

Variants of the surname Feeney include Fenaghy, Fenay, Finney, Feney, Fenech, Feany, Fenehnay, Fenana, and Fihinney.

Fenaghy is the original spelling of the Feeney surname and is most closely associated with the County Antrim branch of the family. It can be derived from the Gaelic words for "fen" meaning marsh and "achadh" meaning field.

Finney is another variant of the surname, believed to be of more recent Irish origin and mainly associated with the counties of Mayo and Galway.

Feney is another variant of Feeney, likely derived from a combination of the Gaelic words for “fionn” meaning white and “achadh” meaning field.

Fenech is another spelling of Feeney, derived from the Gaelic word for “fionnachadh” meaning white-haired.

Feany is a variant of the Feeney surname that is derived from the Latin word for “fenestra” meaning window.

Fenehnay and Fenana are derived from the Gaelic words “faench” meaning fair and “achadh” meaning field, respectively.

Fihinney is a variant of the Feeney surname derived from the Gaelic word for “fiodhnachadh” meaning “descendant of the brown-haired one”.

In some cases, Feeney may also be translated as Feheny, as a shortening of the Gaelic names Mac Fíodhnaigh or Ó Fíodhnaigh.

Famous people with the name Feheney

• John Feeney (born 1924), an American basketball player.
• Marie Fehenney (1930-2005), an American journalist.
• Bill Feheney (born 1948), an American former professional basketball player.
• John Fehenney (born 1951), a former quarterback in the National Football League.
• Peter Fehenney (born 1964), an American actor and radio have.
• Danny Fehenney (born 1970), an Irish retired long-distance runner.
• Rob Fehenney (born 1982), an English footballer.
• Bayley Fehenney (born 1991), an American professional soccer player.

Other surnames

Feheny