Surname McAnaney - Meaning and Origin

McAnaney: What does the surname McAnaney mean?

The last name McAnaney is of Irish origin from the "Mac an Cheannaidh" family, which translates to "son of the merchant" in English. The name is traced back to the descendants of Giolla Cheallaigh, an Irish chief who lived in the 10th century. The surname was mainly found in the counties of Donegal and Leitrim in Ireland, where the family had a long history and significant presence. Like many Irish names, McAnaney has various spellings, including but not limited to McAnany, McEnaney, and McInaney, as the pronunciation and spelling have evolved over time and through emigration. The surname is not widely common outside of Ireland, indicating a strong connection of bearers of the name to Irish heritage.

McAnaney: Where does the name McAnaney come from?

The surname McAnaney is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Canainn or Ó Canainn, which translates to "son of Canan" or "descendant of Canan". The Canan part can refer to "wolf cub", after a common personal nickname or given name. As with many surnames having the Mc/Mac prefix, it represents a patronymic formation, meaning that it is based on the name of a progenitor.

The Mc/Mac (son of) and Ó (grandson or descendant of) prefixes are commonly used in Irish and Scotch Gaelic surnames, and they were generally adopted for patronymic purposes during the 11th century.

Despite being of Irish origin, the spelling "McAnaney" is quite rare in Ireland today. The variations "McCanney" and especially "McCann" are much more widespread in Ireland. However, the surname can be found in various forms among Irish diaspora communities worldwide, especially in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

The surname is quite uncommon, so there are not many places where it is particularly prevalent. But, like many Irish surnames, it can be found scattered across countries with a history of Irish immigration.

Variations of the surname McAnaney

The surname McAnaney is of Irish origin and derived from the Gaelic Mac Canannai. Depending on geographical locations and phonetic translations over time, there are several variants, spellings, and surnames that share the same origins.

Common variations include McAnany, McAneney, McEnaney, McInaney, McCannanny, Makineney, Makaneany, McEnanny, MacAnaney, and M'K'nna besides others. These variations are usually due to the phonetic translations between the Gaelic and English languages, which often vary around Ireland's regions.

Additionally, individuals with this name could have Anglicized variants of the surname, such as McCann and Cannan, reflecting the "Mac Canannai" root.

Given that Irish immigration to other English-speaking nations, such as Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, etc., happened in large numbers, these spelling variants became even more diverse due to misspellings or simplifications.

It's important to note though, while these spellings have the same origin, the families may have been separated for many generations and may not have close relations today. As a result, original clan loyalties and connections may have been lost over time.

Famous people with the name McAnaney

• Mandy McAnaney: Mandy is an American actor and producer, best known for appearances in the films Soul Surfer and TV Land's Retired at 35.
• Paul McAnaney: Paul is an Irish rugby union player. He has represented Connacht, Munster, Munster Rugby, and Cardiff Blues, among others.
• Thomas McAnaney: Thomas is an American academic and author. He is currently a professor of Government, History, and Law at Miami University.
• Patrick McAnaney: Patrick is an English former footballer who played for Tottenham Hotspur.
• Joe McAnaney: Joe is the founder and president of McAnaney Realty, a real estate company specializing in commercial and residential real estate in the South Jersey area.
• Siobhan McAnaney: Siobhan is an Irish singer and songwriter. She is best known for being a member of The High Kings and for her appearances on the Irish television reality show Lá Scéal.
• Ged McAnaney: Ged is a Scottish actor known for his roles in the television shows Coronation Street, Holby City, and The Bill.
• Max McAnaney: Max is an American actor best known for playing the role of CJ Camden in the television family drama 7th Heaven.
• Dee McAnaney: Dee is an Irish author, TV presenter, and radio host. She is best known for her work on the award-winning Irish daytime TV show The Afternoon Show.
• Martina McAnaney: Martina is an Irish actress whose credits include leading roles in the soap operas Fair City, Coronation Street, and EastEnders.

Other surnames

McAnany