Surname Linnane - Meaning and Origin

Linnane: What does the surname Linnane mean?

The last name Linnane is of Irish and Gaelic origin. The name is derived from two words - ‘lann’ and ‘an’ which mean ‘church’ and ‘of’ in English. So, the name Linnane literally translates to ‘of the church’.

The surname is most common in County Clare, a county in Ireland located on the west side of the country and along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. This area was deeply St. Patrick and had a strong religious presence throughout its history. It’s likely that the roots of the name stem from a family belonging to a religious institution of some kind, probably a church or chapel.

Another probable origin of the name can be traced back to a place called Linnane, a small village located in County Clare. It’s thought that some of the earliest families from the area took the place name as their family name. The village of Linnane is thought to have taken its name from a river or stream in the area called the An Linn.

There is also a possibility that the family name emerged as a reference to the Irish god of fire, known as Linnane or Lynn. This deity was believed to have shaped the landscape by causing certain events to occur such as wildfires.

In conclusion, the surname Linnane holds a fascinating history that is deeply rooted in Irish culture and history. It has a significant religious meaning and some believe that the family name originates from the god of fire, Linnane.

Linnane: Where does the name Linnane come from?

The last name Linnane is most commonly found in Ireland, where it has been present since the 16th century. In the current era, it is most frequently seen in the western part of the country. It is also found in the United States, Australia, and England, among other countries with significant Irish populations.

The presence of the surname Linnane can be dated back to the 16th century when the MacLinnane clan, who would later anglicize their name to Linnane, were a Gaelic chieftaincy in the south west of Connacht. The main branches of the Linnane family were centered in the counties of Clare and Limerick in modern-day Ireland and many branches of the family dispersed further afield.

Today, the most common areas for the Linnane name can be found in the sunny counties of Connacht, spanning the likes of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, and Roscommon. In addition to these areas, people with the last name Linnane can also be found in regions such as Cork, Kerry and Dublin.

Though the Linnane family hasn't been tied to the MacLinnane chieftaincy for centuries, their name still remains ubiquitous in the Irish landscape and abroad. Today, the Linnane clan is still connected by their namesake and their many descendants spread across the world.

Variations of the surname Linnane

The surname Linnane has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include O’Lunane, Lunane, Lenane, Linnin, Lynan, Linnan, Linnen, Linane, Lenehan and Leneham. It is likely that all of these surnames share a common root, though their precise connection has yet to be determined.

The surname Linnane is primarily associated with the south of County Clare in Ireland. It has links to tribal Irish chieftains and noble families. In Gaelic, the surname’s likely root is 'O Luinin', which is thought to mean either 'little pleasant one' or 'descendant of Luinin'.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the Linnane name comes from 1653, when a document lists one 'Cornelius Linnane' as a witness for the baptismal records for John Carbery and Margaret Doyle. This suggests that the family was present in the County of Clare before the 1650s.

The variants of the surname Linnane are often used interchangeably with each other. This is not unusual in Irish surnames, as numerous spelling variations developed from a single root name due to the lack of consistency in Ireland during the Medieval era. Commonly, regional accents and dialects, as well as illiteracy and phonetic spelling, were significantly responsible for the discrepancies.

In conclusion, the surname Linnane and its numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are thought to be derived from the Gaelic 'O Luinin', which means either 'little pleasant one' or 'descendant of Luinin'. Animalization and dialects, as well as phonetic spelling and illiteracy, are thought to be responsible for the many versions of this surname.

Famous people with the name Linnane

• Seamus Linnane: Irish Fine Gael politician and former Government Minister
• Dervla Linnane: Irish actress, singer, and television presenter
• Liam Linnane: Canadian soccer player
• Amy Linnane: Irish actress, best known for appearing in Brides of Christ
• Eimear Linnane: Irish musician, best known for her work as lead singer in the indie rock band, The Hots
• Emma Linnane: Irish football player
• James Francis Linnane: Irish Jesuit priest and university professor
• John Linnane: London-based actor and director
• Kieran Linnane: Irish actor, known for appearing in dramedy series Fair City
• Lee Linnane: marketer, venture capital investor, and philanthropist
• Mary Linnane: Irish television producer and screenwriter
• Michael Linnane: Irish historian and author
• Patrick Linnane: Irish politician, former Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
• Ruairí Linnane: Irish soccer player
• Shannon Linnane: Australian cricketer
• Shona Linnane: Irish musician and singer-songwriter
• Thomas Linnane: American basketball player
• Tipper Linnane: American ice hockey player
• William Linnane: Irish politician, lawyer, and Member of Parliament

Other surnames

LinnartzLinnarz