Surname Lenihan - Meaning and Origin
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Lenihan: What does the surname Lenihan mean?
Lenihan is an ancient Gaelic surname derived from the Irish surname Ó Leannáin, which means descendent of Leannán. Leannán was an ancient Irish personal name derived from the Proto-Celtic root "lan" meaning "ardor" and "ann" meaning "might". This refers to a powerful and passionate warrior, which is how the original bearer of Lenihan was likely seen in the community.
The surname Lenihan has a rich and varied history. It is an old Irish name that is derived from the ancient Norman family known as De Leonne, a family that occupied parts of Ireland during the 12th century. After the Normans withdrew, the De Leonne name was anglicized to Lenihan. This name was adopted by many families across the county.
The Lenihan family still comprises a significant portion of Irish society, both in Ireland and abroad. They have dispersed across the globe, representing a wide range of professions and backgrounds in many countries, but their name is still closely associated with the Emerald Isle.
Lenihan is an impressive and noble name with Celtic origins. It is a reminder of the ancient Celtic roots of the Irish people, and it is still a powerful presence in Irish culture. Those bearing the name are proud of its long history and its strong ties to Ireland across the ages.
Order DNA origin analysisLenihan: Where does the name Lenihan come from?
The last name Lenihan is commonly found today in England, Ireland, the United States, Scotland, Canada, and Australia. It is first found in the western Irish-speaking regions of County Limerick, County Cork, and County Clare.
In England, the name Lenihan is most popular in Cornwall, Devon, Exeter, Leeds, and Birmingham. It is particularly abundant in the counties of Belfast, Buckinghamshire, and Surrey.
In Ireland, Lenihan is a very common surname with its highest concentration in counties Cork and Limerick, followed by Dublin and Waterford. County Cork is thought to be the birthplace of the Lenihan name.
In the United States, the Lenihan surname is most prevalent in Pennsylvania and New York. In New York, the Lenihan name is particularly common in the Rochester and Syracuse areas.
In Scotland, the Lenihan name is most popular in Midlothian and Edinburgh, though it is also found in some of the other major cities such as Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen.
In Australia, Lenihan is common in the bigger cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, as well as some of the smaller regional centers.
Finally, in Canada, the Lenihan name can be found in Ontario, Quebec, and western provinces such as British Columbia and Alberta. It is especially common in larger cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
Variations of the surname Lenihan
Lenihan is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Laighin, which means descendant of Laighean. This is sometimes translated to mean descendant of a challenger, or champion. The Lenihan name is mostly found in Clare, Galway, and Kerry, and variants of the name can be found in other parts of the world due to migration.
The most common spellings of Lenihan are Lenehan and Leneghan, with Lenihan being the most widely used in America. Other variants include Lenahan, Lenagan, Leanaghan, Leanhan, Lenahane, Lenahan, and Lenihane.
The Lenihan surname is also spelled Leinyan, Laynehan, Leahane, Lenehan, Leanaghan, Laynaghan, Leanhan, Lahen, Leneghan, Lennon, and Lenon. Other variant surnames include Leney, Lenehee, Lenehe, Leanhaun, Leonehan, Leanhaun, Leanahane, Lanyhaun, Leneghan, Laheidany, Lenany, Leanany, Laynehane, Laynehee, Lenyhau, Leneham, Leonehun, Lenahaun, Leonehaun, Lonahan, Leinan, Laynihan, Leanon, Leonehon, and Laany.
Most of the variants of Lenihan are derived from the Gaelic line of the Leneheen family, which likely originated from the Munster Province in Ireland. Lenihan is still a popular surname in Ireland, but due to the waves of immigration, variations of this name can likely be found all over the world.
Famous people with the name Lenihan
- Brian Lenihan: Irish politician who served as Minister for Finance and Minister for Defence from 2008 until 2011.
- Sean Lenihan: American football coach who served as the head coach for George Mason High School from 2004 to 2010.
- Dan Lenihan: American environmental archaeologist who was a leader in the analysis of human-environmental relationships.
- Patrick Lenihan: American businessman, activist, and politician who established Lenihan Associates, an energy and environment consulting firm.
- Peter Lenihan: Irish hurler who played for the Dublin senior team in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Paddy Lenihan: Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North–Central from 2002 to 2011.
- Sarah Lenihan: Irish entrepreneur who was named the European Women of Achievement “Woman of the Year” in 2020 for her work in the tech industry.
- Niamh Lenihan: Irish actress who has appeared in television, film, and theatre productions.
- Jim Lenihan: Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL during the 1940s.
- unconsciously_confused: Japanese musician who performs under the artist name unconsciously_confused and has been featured in various music festivals.