Surname McElheney. - Meaning and Origin

McElheney.: What does the surname McElheney. mean?

The last name McElheney is of Scottish origin and is believed to be derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Cheanaigh” which means "son of the devotee of St. Caenach". The prefix "Mac" is seen throughout Scotland and Ireland and is an indication of a family that is of a high status and of ancient lineage.

The McElheney’s were originally from the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland. Though they could trace their lineage back to the province, their line of the family settled in Scotland by the 16th century. It is believed this migration happened as a result of the great famine in the early 17th century.

By the mid-19th century, the McElheney’s had become an established family in the towns of Ayrshire and Renfrew, both in Scotland. In the present day, there are still traces of the McElheney family in these locations.

The family name McElheney is fairly uncommon throughout the world, though there are families that are known to bear the name in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and United States. Each family, even though the name is a shared one, has their own unique and individual line of ancestry, and quite possibly their own unique stories of success brought on by the surname.

As with any surname, the name McElheney holds a great deal of importance within families that trace their ancestry through it. It is a representation of the effort that was put in by the original family members to secure a better life and one that can be celebrated and passed on to new generations.

McElheney.: Where does the name McElheney. come from?

The last name McElheney is an Irish-origin surname, most commonly found in Europe today. It is particularly common in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, likely due to the influence of the Irish diaspora. The name appears in records as far back as the 1600s, with a John McIlhaney of Derry featured on a 1609 census.

The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic “Mac Giolla Fhione” or “Son of the Servant of Fhiona”. The Fhiona in this name is claimed to refer to the Irish deity Fhiona mac Aedh. This suggests the name was used by those of the Irish nobility.

In terms of countries where the surname is particularly common today, Scotland appears to have the largest concentration. Scotland’s census of 1881 recorded over 350 McElheney households, comprising around 1,000 people in total. The next highest country of concentration is Ireland, with over 250 households recorded on the 1881 census. Both countries have seen increased numbers of McElheney households since then, as further migrants from Ireland settled in Scotland and elsewhere in the British Isles.

The name McElheney is also found in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania which is where many of the Irish migrants to the U.S. settled. In the most recent census, there were over 500 households in America just with the McElheney surname. This makes it the most widespread of the Irish origin surnames.

In summary, the last name McElheney is most commonly found today in Europe, especially Ireland and Scotland. It is also found in other areas, such as the United States, due to the Irish diaspora that took place throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Variations of the surname McElheney.

The surname McElheney has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants and spellings include McCalhany, MacClhaney, McElhenney, MacElhaney, MacElhenny, MacElheny, and MacOlhaney.

The surname originates from the Irish patronymic Mac Giolla Eoin, meaning "son of the servant of Eoin". The McElheney surname was initially used to describe those who were related to someone named Eoin. It's likely that the surname first originated in tents or branches of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe.

Variations on the spelling of the surname likely occurred when the McElheney daughters married and took on their husbands' surname, or when emigrants anglicised, or changed, the spelling to conform to English conventions. The result is a variety of variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

Other variations of the name may also include McIlhenny, McIlheny, McElhinney, McClehaney, MacClhenny, and MacClhenny. Variants of this name have spread to various countries across the world, with different spellings and surnames being used to represent the same origin.

In summary, the surname McElheney has numerous variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include, but are not limited to, McCalhany, MacClhaney, McElhenney, MacElhaney, MacElhenny, MacElheny, MacOlhaney, McIlhenny, McIlheny, McElhinney, McClehaney, MacClhenny, and MacClhenny.

Famous people with the name McElheney.

• Mike McElhaney: Mike McElhaney is an American actor best known for his role as Deputy Howard in the popular Netflix show Big Mouth.
• Art McElhaney: Art McElhaney is an American actor who has appeared in shows such as House MD, The Big Bang Theory, and, recently, Community.
• Warren McElhaney: Warren McElhaney is a film director known for his critically acclaimed films 20th Century Foxes and How To Be.
• Mary McElhaney: Mary McElhaney is a noted American novelist and short story writer best known for her works The House on Maple Street and The Fisherman’s Sister.
• Bill McElhaney: Bill McElhaney is a prominent American entrepreneur and business executive most known for launching the home security company ADT Security Services.
• Jill McElhaney: Jill McElhaney is an award-winning American interior designer best known for her work with homeowners all over the country.
• Mike McElhaney Jr.: Mike McElhaney Jr. is an American comic creator and animation artist who has worked with companies such as Marvel, DC, and Cartoon Network.
• Steve McElhaney: Steve McElhaney is an author, songwriter, and musician most noted for his 1977 single “The Vigil”.
• Bryan McElhaney: Bryan McElhaney is an award-winning American playwright whose work has seen major success on both Broadway and in the West End.
• David McElhaney: David McElhaney is a Canadian businessman and investor most known for co-founding the successful gaming company Zynga.

Other surnames

McElhenny