Surname McNeny - Meaning and Origin
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McNeny: What does the surname McNeny mean?
The surname McNeny is of Irish origin. It's an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Néinín," which translates to "son of Néinín." This name is derived from a diminutive form of the personal name Néidín, a term of affection that means "little nest". It is also suggested that McNeny could mean "son of the little saint."
Like other surnames that start with 'Mac' or 'Mc' (both meaning ‘son of’), it is a patronymic surname. This means that the person was identified by their father's name, or occasionally, another male ancestor. Therefore, the name McNeny would have initially been used to denote the son of a man named Néinín. Originating in the region of Munster and seen mostly in Counties Clare and Cork today, it has several variations including McEneny, McNene, and McNeaney.
However, individuals bearing this surname today may not necessarily have any familial or ancestral links to a man named Néinín due to the way hereditary surnames have evolved and spread over centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMcNeny: Where does the name McNeny come from?
The surname McNeny is of Irish origin, stemming from the Gaelic name Mac an Einigh, meaning "son of the bird". The family was a part of the Irish nobles residing in the province of Connacht, situated in the west of Ireland.
In terms of popularity, McNeny is still most commonly found in Ireland due to its origins. However, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to historical Irish emigration. The highest concentration outside of Ireland is in the United States, specifically in states with large Irish-American populations such as New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Despite its spread, McNeny remains a relatively uncommon surname globally, with only a few thousand bearers worldwide. It is important to note that the spelling of Irish surnames often changed during emigration, so variations of the name might be more common. For instance, anglicized versions like McEneny or McIneny could be more prevalent in countries with English as a dominant language.
Variations of the surname McNeny
The surname McNeny is an Irish surname whose exact origins are uncertain but it could be derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Fhine" or "Mac an Einigh" implying 'son of the wine' or 'son of the bird'.
Several variants and spellings of the surname McNeny have emerged over the centuries through immigration, translation, and phonetic changes. Some of these include McNeney, McNany, McNaney, McEneny, McEnany, McEneaney, McEenaney, etc. These variations essentially carry the same meaning but are phonetic adaptations done in different regions.
It's also important to remember that like most Gaelic names, McNeny can be prefixed with "Mac" or "Mc", both meaning 'son of'. Therefore, in some cases, the surname could have been changed to Neny, Neney, Eneny, Enany, Eneaney, or Eneaney.
In addition, due to the migration of Irish people to North America and other parts of the world, the surname may have further adapted to local language phonetics, resulting in additional variants.
Despite these possible variations, the most widely accepted and common form of the surname remains McNeny or McNeney.
Famous people with the name McNeny
- Mike McNeny: Former competition director at Porsche Motorsport, which he has served for over thirty years.
- Tom McNeny: Retired professional soccer player and coach who served in Major League Soccer for nine years.
- Sarah McNeny: Professional dancer who has appeared on multiple television shows and films, including "So You Think You Can Dance".
- Kelly McNeny: Professional golfer who is part of the Symetra Tour.
- Brian McNeny: Professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who currently competes in the flyweight division.
- Sean McNeny: Former ice hockey player who played at a professional level for two seasons and is now a coach.
- Robert McNeny: Former mayor of St. Louis, Missouri.
- Andrew McNeny: Retired American football player who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Miami Dolphins.
- Troy McNeny: Retired Major League Baseball player who played for the San Diego Padres.
- Shane McNeny: Professional drag racer who is part of the National Hot Rod Association.