Surname McLenny - Meaning and Origin

McLenny: What does the surname McLenny mean?

The last name McLenny is thought to have derived from the Old Gaelic name Mac Giolla Fhionnguala, which roughly translates to “the son of a devotee of St Andy”. The name originates in Scotland and is found mainly in the south and west of the country, but can also be seen in northern England, Ireland, and America. Variations of the name include MacLennan, MacLennon, and McLenney.

The McLenny clan was a powerful one in Scotland, holding estates in counties such as Ross and Cromarty, as well as Perthshire. They were a military clan, first assisting the Scots in the Battle of Largs to defeat the Norwegians in 1263. Their territories then expanded southwards to the Highlands, and later to England and Ireland.

The family has a strong sense of loyalty to their heritage and remain proud to this day. Members of the McLenny clan can be found in many different areas across the world, often keeping in touch through their shared surname.

The distinguishing characteristic of the family is its unique sense of identity. They are members of an exclusive group and proud of their heritage. The McLenny name is associated with pride, loyalty, and strength of character.

McLenny: Where does the name McLenny come from?

The last name McLenny is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. The Mc or Mac prefix, meaning "son of," has a long history in the British Isles and is especially prominent in Scotland. The surname McLenny is thought to have originated in the Leinster province of Ireland, where the families of McLennys were origianlly part of the O'Maolain clan.

Today, the McLenny surname is distributed throughout the British Isles, but it is particularly numerous in Northern Ireland and Scotland. According to the Surname Database, the most recent records show that the McLenny surname appears most often across the six counties of Northern Ireland, as well as in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

The McLenny surname is also present in North America, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the US, the McLenny surname is most frequently found in the mid-western states such as Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, but records also indicate that the surname is present in various other regions, including Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and California. Similarly, the McLenny surname is found all across the provinces of Canada, although the population there is much smaller than in the UK.

In Australia, the last name McLenny is most commonly found in the major metropolitan areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

Given the global reach of the surname, it can be concluded that the last name McLenny has a strong presence in the United Kingdom and much of North America and Australia.

Variations of the surname McLenny

The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname McLenny can be quite varied.

McLenny is a Gaelic surname, derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Fhionnaich, which means ‘son of the devotee of (the Irish god) Finn’. Common variant spellings of this name are ‘McLennan’ and ‘Mac Lennan’. It is also found in some variant forms such as ‘MacLenny’, ‘McLenny’, and ‘MacClenny’.

The McLenny surname is thought to have originated in Scotland, but is now found all over the world. Other spellings which could stem from the same Gaelic roots are MacLennan, McLennan, MacLannis, McLinnis, McLinnen, MacLennon, McIntyre, MacMillan, and MacFarlane.

When researching family history, it is important to remember that alternative names and spellings have been used throughout the years and when searching genealogical records, it is best to search using as many variant spellings as possible. This is to ensure that all the possibilities are found and documented. It is also important to research a family name’s origin and understand how the alternate spellings might have been used over the centuries.

The name McLenny can also be found in a number of different countries around the world. In Canada, the McLenny surname is believed to have been one of the earliest Scottish names to be brought over by English and Scottish settlers, while in America, both the spelling McLenny and McLennan are common.

In Irish records, the McLenny surname is usually anglicized as Mac Linn or MacLin, while in Australia it is known as MacGlenny or McGlinn. There are also some people who have taken their ancestral McLenny surname and changed it slightly or expanded it to form other surnames, such as McClellan, McCartney, and McClean.

Overall, there are many variants of the McLenny surname that can be explored through genealogical research. To fully understand the origin and spread of a family name, it is important to research its spelling variations and wider relationship to other names.

Famous people with the name McLenny

• Colin McLennan: a Canadian Entrepreneur and former CEO of Commonwealth Bank of Canada.
• Eva McLennan: an English actress, best known for her roles in BBC, ITV and Channel 4 dramas.
• Katie McLennan: an American actress from New York, best known for her roles in the MTV series Faking It and The Wrong Mans.
• Derran McLennan: an English actor, best known for his roles in Leslie R Barker's Lionshead.
• Neil McLennan: Canadian Curler and Reverend
• Angus McLennan: Canadian Politician
• David McLennan: Professor of Political Science at William & Mary
• Mick McLennan: English Musician
• Chris McLennan: New Zealand Photographer
• Hayden McLennan: Australian rugby player
• Andy McLennan: Canadian TV Producer
• Stephen McLennan: English Historian
• George McLennan: Scottish Politician
• Derek McLennan: Scottish Politician
• Arthur McLennan: Canadian Entrepreneur
• Ronald McLennan: Scottish musician
• Deborah McLennan: Scottish actress
• Robert McLennan: Canadian politician
• Andrew McLennan: Australian entrepreneur
• Tom McLennan: Scottish Writer and Producer

Other surnames

McLenaghanMcLendonMcLennanMcLennon