Surname MacMorney - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacMorney: What does the surname MacMorney mean?
The surname MacMorney is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Mongámhna or Mac Mathghamhna. It may be anglicized in a variety of ways, including MacMorney, MacMorna, MacMornay, and MacMorney.
The name can be traced back to a sept of the ancient Highland clans of Scotland and Ireland. It is thought to technically be a patronymic surname, which means it was originally derived from the given name of an ancestor, with the prefix “Mac” meaning “son of” or “descendant of.” In this case, “Mongámhna” or “Mathghamhna” likely refers to one of the sons of Mongán mac Fiachnai, a mythical king of Ulster.
The surname is particularly common in County Fermanagh, Ulster, where many of the descendants of the sept still reside. As a consequence, the MacMornay’s lived in the Clanawley barony area, in what is now County Fermanagh, for centuries. This part of Connacht had several clans, but the MacMorney’s were the most notable.
Often associated with the MacMorney’s was the phrase used by Hugh MacMorney, the hereditary chieftain of the sept. He would use the phrase “Caith siar, agus algai an tuar” which in English means “Go back and draw the curtain”. This phrase has been used by many MacMorney’s as a reminder of their ancient heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMacMorney: Where does the name MacMorney come from?
The MacMorney surname is quite rare and is found mostly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and the United States. In the United Kingdom, MacMorney is mostly concentrated in the county of Kent, located in the very south-east of England. The name is also quite common in Northern Ireland, especially County Down, where it is the ninth most popular surname.
In Canada, the surname tends to be more concentrated in Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, with fewer occurrences found in the rest of the country. The MacMorneys of Eastern Canada are mostly descendants of people who emigrated from England and Ireland in the late 19th century.
In the United States, MacMorney is most common in Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and New Jersey. Interestingly enough, the highest concentration of the name is in "holiness churches" in the Appalachian mountain range, with many people of the name citing "MacMorn" as their place of origin.
In conclusion, the MacMorney surname is not particularly common today. However, it is concentrated in both the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America, with many people of the name having their place of origin in the Appalachian mountain range in the United States.
Variations of the surname MacMorney
The surname MacMorney is an Irish name that originated in County Mayo, Ireland. It is derived from the ancient Gaelic name Mag Murne, which means the descendant of Murne. It is also spelled MacMurney, MacMurny, MacMunnie, MacMunnis, MacMonie, and MacMonnie.
Variants of the surname MacMorney include Munn, Murney, Monny, Stuffin, and Stunlich. The various spellings of MacMorney vary by spelling dialect and spelling rules in the different languages and cultures propelled by the Irish Diaspora.
In Scotland, variants of MacMorney include MacMurnane, MacMurnan, MacMurnam, MacMurnach, MacMurnand, MacMurnon, MacMurney, and MacMurnoch. In England, the spelling often appears as Monie, Munn, and Monnie.
The different spellings often refer to versions of the name that were used in different parts of the world. In the US, the variants on the name have often been Anglicized to include MacMoney, MacMonroe, Munn, Monnie, and Murnane.
Regardless of spelling, the name MacMorney is an Irish patronymic name and has been passed down from generation to generation throughout history. It originated from County Mayo and is associated with a distinguished history of having been a hereditary surname. The name is not exclusive to Ireland as it can be found in many countries throughout the world today.
Famous people with the name MacMorney
- Richard MacMorney: an actor who has appeared in several major films such as The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004), The Aviator (2004), and Black Swan (2010).
- Gerard MacMorney: a British singer and songwriter who has released several albums including Silent Rave (2000), When The World Was Still Ours (2004), and Down At The River (2010).
- Eileen MacMorney: an influential feminist who rose to prominence by pioneering the movement for safety measures in abortion clinics in the U.S. during the late 1960's.
- Lucy MacMorney: an artist who created some of the most iconic works of visual art in England in the 1950's and 1960's.
- Clara MacMorney: a well-known criminal attorney working in the British justice system who is credited with participating in a number of important cases and has a long list of successful clients.
- Susan MacMorney: a journalist who made some of the earliest reports about the exploitation of sweatshop laborers in Asia during the mid-1990's.
- Ryan MacMorney: a popular photographer and director who has completed several projects for magazines and television networks throughout the world.
- Alan MacMorney: a renowned scholar and writer who has published several books on topics ranging from religion to philosophy.
- Nicole MacMorney: one of the first female CEOs of a major company in the U.S., she rose to fame when she became the first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.
- Adam MacMorney: an actor who is well-known for his roles on the popular television soap operas General Hospital and All My Children.