Surname Lynskey - Meaning and Origin
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Lynskey: What does the surname Lynskey mean?
The last name Lynskey is an Anglo-Norman patronymic surname from a Gaelic personal name, is thought to be derived from the Irish O' Loingsidhe, meaning "descendant of Loingseach". It is a variant spelling of the more common Irish surname, Lynch.
The Lynskey family first put down roots in England following the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066. Then, throughout the fourteenth century, many members of the family immigrated to Ireland, primarily in County Galway, where the surname was changed to Lynch.
The Lynskey surname is usually associated with West of Ireland and County Galway, although some variants of the surname can be found in the United States today. It is estimated that there are approximately 700 individuals in the US who bear this surname today.
The Lynskey family coat of arms includes a horse's head, surrounded by three spinning wheels denoting the family trade as horse traders. Additionally, a crest of a hand holding a string of beads can be found, symbolizing the family's service to the Church.
Today, Lynskey is a relatively uncommon surname, primarily found in Ireland, England, the United States, and countries of the British Isles. Nonetheless, many members of the Lynskey clan still exist today and remain proud of their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisLynskey: Where does the name Lynskey come from?
The last name Lynskey is of Irish origin and is most commonly found in the area of County Mayo, Ireland. In addition, Lynskey is also very common in the United Kingdom. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were approximately 2,100 people with the surname Lynskey living in England and Wales as of 2018.
There is also a high population of Lynskey surnames in the United States and other parts of the world. In the United States the last name Lynskey is most common in Pennsylvania, followed by New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. In terms of population, the United States has slightly more Lynskeys than the United Kingdom, with an estimate of around 2,400 people bearing the last name in 2020.
Outside of the United States and United Kingdom, the Lynskey surname is also prevalent in countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In Canada, the surname is most popular in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. Australia and New Zealand also have a high population of Lynskeys, although most are based in the bigger cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland.
Finally, the Lynskey surname also has a presence in other countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and even as far as Brazil. All in all, the Lynskey surname is quite widespread across the world, although it remains mostly concentrated in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Lynskey
The surname Lynskey has several different spellings and variants that are all derived from the same origin.
The most common variants of the surname are Lynskey, Lynsky, Linsky, Lyneskey and Linskey. It is also sometimes spelled as Linskye, Lyncksey, Lynsey, Linkskey, Lynske, Linske, Linskye, Linksky and Lanskey. It may also be found in its hyphenated form, Lynskey-Linskey.
Originally, the Lynskey surname was derived from the Gaelic name O Loinsce, which is itself derived from the Middle Irish word “loinseach” which means “freedman”. The surname was likely first associated with the ancient Gaelic kingdom of Leinster, which is now located in the province of Leinster, Ireland.
Other related surnames can also be found across various European countries. In Ireland, variations of the surname such as Linske, Linkske, Lynske, O'Luncaidhe, O'Lanusky, and O'Luncey are all derivatives of O Loinsce. In Scotland, variants such as Linchey, Lincksy, Linsky, Lynsky, Lynsay, and Lynsey can all be traced back to the same origin. Similarly, in England variants such as Linskey, Linsey, Linsky, Lynsey, Lynksy, and Lynsley are all derived from O Loinsce.
The Lynskey surname has a long and rich history and is still found throughout Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Lynskey
- Melanie Lynskey: New Zealand actress who starred in TV series such as Two and a Half Men and the recent Big Little Lies.
- Michael Lynskey: American actor best known for his role as Randy Meeks in the Scream film series.
- Philip Lynskey: British film director, writer, and producer.
- Ciaran Lynskey: Irish singer and songwriter.
- Bailee Lynn Lynskey: American singer and musician based in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Juliette Lynskey: American stage actress and singer.
- Johnny Lynskey: Cuban-born American artist, photographer, and songwriter.
- Caroline Lynskey: Irish musical theatre actress and producer.
- Donnacha Lynskey: Irish production designer and art director.
- Corinne Lynskey: British actress, mostly known for her lead role in the 1997 film, 104 Dalmatians.