Surname Kiniry - Meaning and Origin
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Kiniry: What does the surname Kiniry mean?
The surname Kiniry is an Anglicised version of an Irish name. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Cionaoith or O Cionnaoith. This is an old Gaelic name from Connacht meaning of Cionnaoith, which is derived from the Gaelic element cion meaning love or respect.
The name Kiniry is most frequently found in counties Cork, Sligo, Galway and Clare in Ireland. It is sometimes spelt Kinery, though the variants Kenery, Kenry and Kinny are more likely to be of Norman French rather than Irish Gaelic origin.
Kiniry is a rare surname, with older records indicating that there were only a few "patronymic families" associated with the name in each generation. It is not known whether the Kiniry families were connected or not.
Some members of the Kiniry family can be found involved in various professional fields, such as in radios, politics and literature. In addition, it is believed that one of the first families to settle in New York City, thus starting the modern American tradition of Irish immigrants was a Kiniry family.
Overall, the Kiniry surname ties to the deep roots of Irish tradition and heritage, with its Gaelic etymology and associations with the old Celtic language. It is a proud name that represents connection to a very rich history.
Order DNA origin analysisKiniry: Where does the name Kiniry come from?
The last name Kiniry is most commonly found in the United States, where it is present in nearly every state. It is also more commonly found in the northeastern part of the country, including the states of Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. It is also relatively common in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and Illinois. Outside of the United States, the last name is much less common and is mainly present in Ireland, Australia, and Canada.
In terms of its Irish heritage, the name Kiniry is most commonly associated with County Wexford and County Cork. The origins of the name are believed to derive from Macínire, an ancient Gaelic name that cluster several Irish and Scottish families together. The name likely comes from either Kinneigh, which is derived from an Irish phrase meaning “of the wood,” or Kinirty, which means “of the hill.”
Although the name Kiniry is quite common today, its meaning and origin have been largely forgotten. To this day, many people who are of Irish or Scottish descent carry the name and don’t know the origin of their familial roots. Thus, the name Kiniry is deeply embedded in the cultural history of the United States, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Kiniry
The Kiniry surname is likely of Irish origin, and a number of variations in spelling have arisen due to its evolution in different languages. The most common variants of the name include Kiniry, Kineary, Keniry, Kennary, Kinneary, McKenery, McEnary, and O'Canaire.
In many cases, surnames of Irish origin were Anglicized to fit the English language following colonization. As a result, Kiniry can also appear in documents as Kinaree, Kinnery, Kendery, Kinneery, Kienary, O'Kenery, and O'Kinnery.
In some cases, the name variants have spread to other countries. For example, in Spain, the surname Kiniry is sometimes spelled Quinara or Quinaria, and in France, the tangential surname Queinney can be seen.
In terms of the original verdants, Kiniry may have originated as either of two surnames: Mac Canaire from the Irish Gaelic Mac=Hallowed, Clan=blood of, and the similar Verify Ali Canaire.
The specific Icelandic variant is Kinniosar, which may be attributed to the combination of the two Irish surnames.
In terms of nicknames, some shortened versions of the Kiniry surname have arisen over time. These include Kin, Kiner, Kini, Ken, and Ky.
An alternate spelling, Kinnaire, may sometimes be encountered, and this likely developed as a typo or a phonetic spelling over the years. The name can also be found under its original Irish spelling, Mac Canaire and MacKenery.
Finally, along with the more common surnames, some names that have arisen from Kiniry are Kinealy, Kienny, Kinera, Kinra, and Kinarin.
Famous people with the name Kiniry
- Stephen Kiniry: Stephen Kiniry is an Irish artist, painter, printmaker and sculptor.
- Anne Kiniry: Anne Kiniry is a New York-based playwright, author, and journalist.
- Joe Kiniry: Joe Kiniry is an American computer scientist and entrepreneur, best known for his work in the field of programming languages and compilers.
- Joe Kiniry: Joe Kiniry is vice president & CTO at ForgeRock, a software company focused on digital identity and access management.
- Joe Kiniry: Joe Kiniry is a former professional Rocket League player, currently a professional Smash Bros. player and Twitch streamer.
- Sam Kiniry: Sam Kiniry is a professional golfer and coach.
- Tony Kiniry: Tony Kiniry is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987 and 1988.
- Joseph Kiniry: Joseph Kiniry is a native of the Maryland Eastern Shore and is a former United States Naval Academy All-American lacrosse player.
- Shane Kiniry: Shane Kiniry is an American professional Long Drive golfer, investor, and entrepreneur.
- Brian Kiniry: Brian Kiniry is an Irish former professional motocross racer who competed in the Motocross World Championships for Team Ireland.