Surname Fennesy - Meaning and Origin

Fennesy: What does the surname Fennesy mean?

The surname Fennesy is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "O'Fionnghusa", which is a compound of the elements “fionn”, meaning "white or fair", and “gus”, translating to "vigour." So, the surname can be said to mean 'descendant of the fair vigour.' This indicates someone who is energetic or high-spirited. Additionally, Fennesy is related to the regions of County Clare and County Galway on the western seaboard of Ireland. Like many surnames, over centuries, it has undergone variations in spelling, including Finglas, Finnessey, Fennessy, Fennesy, and others. Although it is not amongst the most common Irish surnames, it is still in use and carried with pride within Irish communities around the world. However, please note that the meanings of surnames can depend on their specific cultural and historical contexts, and this interpretation aligns with the most common understanding of the surname Fennesy in Irish lineage.

Fennesy: Where does the name Fennesy come from?

The last name Fennesy is considered to be of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "O'Fionnghusa" which translates to mean "descendant of the fair choice." It was first found in County Clare, where the family held a seat from very ancient times, well before the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172. Therefore, it is part of a larger group of surnames known as Gaelic or Irish patronymics. There are various spelling variations of the name including, but not limited to, Fennessey, Fensy, and Fennessy.

Today, the last name Fennesy can predominantly be found in Ireland, United States, and to a lesser extent, Australia and England. As with most Irish families, emigration due to economic hardship, especially during the Great Famine of the late 1840's, led to the dispersion of the name. Therefore, descendants of the original Fennesy family can be located around the world, wherever Irish diaspora are found. Despite its dispersion, this name is not very common, and individuals bearing the last name Fennesy remain relatively few in number globally.

Variations of the surname Fennesy

The surname Fennesy is believed to be of Irish origin. It might have been derived from the Gaelic personal name Fionnghusa, which means "fair", "white" or "blonde" and "choice".

There are several variants and spelling forms of Fennesy. These include Fennessy, Fennessey, Fenessy, Fennissy, Fennesee and Fenisy. The other surnames that are commonly seen as misspellings or derivatives are Finesy, Finessy, Fenessey, Fenisy and Finessi.

Another important aspect to consider is that, during times when literacy was not common, names were written down by scribes the way they were pronounced, hence may have several different spellings depending on the local accent and the scribe.

Moreover, the surname might also be anglicized into different forms. For instance, the similar Gaelic surnames like O'Fionnghusa or Ó Fionnghusa might have been anglicized as Guinness, Finglass, Finnerty, or Finnessy.

In general, the surname Fennesy and its various forms are quite rare but are found in larger concentrations in Ireland, notably in the southern county of Waterford.

Famous people with the name Fennesy

• Mitchell Fennesy: American Actor who has starred in many television shows, including Sanford and Son, The West Wing, American Housewife, and The Fast and the Furious. 2.Fennessy Ward: Upper-level operational professional and private jet pilot who has worked on the aircrew of a variety of air carriers and luxury aircrafts.
• Pete Fennesy: Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste of Ireland from 1997 to 2002.
• William Fennesy: French-born American painter and lithographer known for his Romantic-style landscapes.
• Seán Fennesy: Irish hurling player who won an All-Ireland medal with Cork in 1975 and is a member of the Munster team of the century.
• Emma Fennesy- British actress best known for playing Mandy Maslowsky in the sitcom Teachers and Mara Ann St. Clair in the soap opera Brookside.
• Dan Fennesy: Musician and songwriter from Dublin, Ireland who was part of the folk revival of the early 1990s and is the composer of the hit single "Limerick Rake".
• John Fennesy: Novelist, poet, and playwright from Virginia who wrote the acclaimed novel High Tide in Autumn and the play What Every Woman Knows.
• Paul Fennesy: Professional golfer from New Jersey who was a member of the PGA Tour from the 1990s to the early 2000s.
• Kate Fennesy: English-born Canadian news anchor and reporter who co-anchored CTV's Canada AM from 1998 to 2002.

Other surnames

FenneFennellFennemaFennemannFennenFennenkötterFennesseyFennessy