Surname MacKiniry - Meaning and Origin
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MacKiniry: What does the surname MacKiniry mean?
The surname MacKiniry has a few possible origins. The first is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Mac Fionnghuala, which means ‘son of the fair-tressed one’. It is based on the Old Gaelic personal name Fionnghuala, which was derived from the words ‘fionn’, meaning fair, and ‘guala’ meaning tress. It may have originated as a nickname for someone with light or fair hair.
The surname MacKiniry is also an Anglicized form of the Irish name Mac Aonghusa, which means ‘son of Aonghus’. Aonghus is a masculine given name which is derived from the old Gaelic elements ‘aon’, which means ‘one’, and ‘ghus’, which means ‘excellence or choice’.
In some cases, MacKiniry may even be an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Guinneir, which means ‘son of the fair-haired one’. This name is derived from the Old Gaelic personal name Guinneir which is derived from the words ‘guin’ meaning fair and ‘neor’ meaning hair.
No matter the specific origin, the surname MacKiniry usually denotes someone who is of Irish descent. It is an embodiment of ancient Gaelic culture and serves as a reminder of their heritage and identity.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKiniry: Where does the name MacKiniry come from?
The MacKiniry surname is found primarily in Ireland today, where it originated centuries ago in the Scottish-Irish population. The MacKiniry name is most commonly found in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht.
In Ulster, the surname is most prevalent in the counties of Fermanagh, Donegal, and Londonderry, while in the province of Connacht it is most abundant in County Mayo. The MacKiniry surname is even more common in northern Mayo and west Donegal, where it is found in its highest concentration.
Outside of Ireland, the surname is most common in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain. In the United States and Canada, the highest concentrations of MacKinirys are found in the Midwestern states and provinces, many of which have large Irish-American or Irish-Canadian populations.
In Australia, the majority of the MacKiniry population is concentrated around Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, while in Great Britain it is most prevalent in South Wales, Yorkshire, Merseyside, and Greater London.
Though the surname MacKiniry is not as common today as it was centuries ago, it is still a popular surname in Ireland and around the world. For those bearing the MacKiniry name, it can be a source of pride that the surname has been passed down from their Irish ancestors.
Variations of the surname MacKiniry
The surname MacKiniry is most commonly spelled MacKiniry, but it is also seen spelled as MacKenery, MacKinera, MacKinela, and McKinery.
The MacKiniry name is Irish in origin, and originates from the Gaelic words Mac an Iomaire, which translates to “son of the navigator”. This references the sea-faring nature of the original family who adopted this surname centuries ago.
Variations of this surname have been found in Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. Variants in Scotland include MacKinnery, MacKenery, and MacKinera. In Ireland, a form of the surname is found as MacKinlery, with variants in the United States including McKinery, MacKinela, and MacKiniry.
The MacKiniry and Mc/MacKaunery surnames are essentially the same, and are both derived from the original Irish name Mac an Iomaire. Other variations include MacKaneer, MacKanrr, and McKaneery.
Other alternate spellings of the original Gaelic name include Mac Giolla Iomaire, Mac Giolla Iomair, Mac Giolla Iomhar, and Mac Iomhaire. While similar, they are not the same surname as MacKiniry.
It is important to note that some families have adopted different forms of this surname over time due to poor record keeping and even transcription errors in the past. As such, it is possible to find families with a variation of MacKiniry but no direct connection.
Famous people with the name MacKiniry
- Chris MacKiniry: Scottish rugby union player
- Amy MacKiniry: Canadian actress
- Clay MacKiniry: Canadian stand-up comedian
- Patrick MacKiniry: Irish actor
- Don MacKiniry: Canadian film director
- Ryan MacKiniry: American baseball outfielder
- Craig MacKiniry: English footballer
- Courtney MacKiniry: Canadian triathlete
- Rob MacKiniry: Australian cricketer
- Jersy MacKiniry: American singer-songwriter