Surname MacKenny - Meaning and Origin
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MacKenny: What does the surname MacKenny mean?
The last name MacKenny is of Scottish origin, coming from the Gaelic surname Mac Nèatain. Historically, this surname was given to anyone of the Clan MacKenzie who held a position of authority or leadership in the community. The Clan MacKenzie traces its roots back to the 12th century, when an ancestor named Kenneth helped an obscure Scottish King reclaim his throne.
The surname is derived from the Gaelic for "son of Kenneth," or mac neatain. Over the centuries, it has become anglicized to MacKenny, MacKenney, Kenny, and Kennyne. Today, the name is associated with loyalty, honour, and strength. People who bear the surname MacKenny are proud of their heritage and take their responsibilities very seriously.
The MacKenny family has a long history of distinguished career service among branches of the military, as well as politics and law. Those who bear the name are also proud of their clan's long history of contributing to the arts, music, literature, and religion. The name is synonymous with courage, resilience, and responsibility, values that continue to be upheld by MacKenny family members everywhere.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKenny: Where does the name MacKenny come from?
The last name MacKenny is most common today in English-speaking countries especially the United Kingdom and Ireland. The surname is of Scottish origin, and is a variant form of MACKENZIE, meaning ‘the son of Kenneth’. As a result, the surname may still be strongly associated with the Celtic nations, because of its roots and spread mainly through migratory routes, usually following the many clans who moved around Scotland, and eventually further afield to the Irish and English harbors.
Today, the surname MacKenny is still commonly found throughout Ireland, Scotland, and England. It is also quite popular in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, thanks to waves of Irish and Scottish immigration during the 18th and 19th centuries. In the U.S. specifically, the name can be found in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, and Texas, in particular.
The bearers of the MacKenny name are said to be independent, creative, and loyal to their families. As members of the Scottish and Irish histories, they are strong-willed, goal oriented, and enjoy challenges.
Variations of the surname MacKenny
The surname MacKenny, which originates from Ireland, has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Mac Kenny, Kenney, McKenny, McKenna, Mckenna, and Kenna.
Mac Kenny is the common name associated with MacKenny. Generally, those with the name of Mac Kenny come from the Irish surname of the same origin. However, the surname has taken on different spellings and pronunciations over the years due to the migration of the population over time.
Kenney is a variant of the surname MacKenny. It is commonly spelled with an 'e' instead of an 'a' in the middle of the original name. This is a common transformation over generations as the name is adapted to different locales from which the family has hailed.
McKenny is another variant of the surname. This spelling is the most common form of the original name. In this form, the 'a' has been replaced with an 'e'.
McKenna and Mckenna are both variants of MacKenny and share the same meaning. The difference in spelling is purely based on the person's individual preference.
Lastly, Kenna is the least common of all the variants. This spelling also keeps the 'a' in the middle of the name and removes the 'c' that is usually present in the other variants.
Overall, the surname of MacKenny has seen some slight changes over the years as families moved from place to place. Regardless, all of these variants of spelling and surnames are of the same origin.
Famous people with the name MacKenny
- Robert MacKenny: Actor best known for the 2017 movie Stronger
- Margo MacKenny: Canadian Voice actress and producer
- Adam MacKenny: Television actor, recently seen in the BBC drama Death in Paradise
- Rafe MacKenny: Singer-songwriter from Vancouver, Canada
- Hugh MacKenny: British comedian, writer, and presenter
- Elder MacKenny: Retired professional basketball player
- Roy MacKenny: Scottish footballer who represented the Scotland national team for 15 years
- Pat MacKenny: American television producer and writer
- Kris MacKenny: Veteran sound editor and sound designer
- June MacKenny: Artist known for her abstract expressionist paintings