Surname Sheney - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sheney: What does the surname Sheney mean?
The last name Sheney is of Irish origin and comes from the Gaelic name "O Scannal" or "O Scannail". The ‘O’ prefix was used to indicate members of a clan or tribe. The ‘Scannal’ part of the name is derived from the Gaelic for ‘litigation’ - meaning that the first persons to carry the name were likely lawyers or legal officers. As such, the surname would have been used to denote an important and respected person within the community.
The Sheney family could be found mainly concentrated in counties Leitrim and Longford that are situated in the Midlands Region of Ireland. Over the centuries, the Sheney family has become an icon of the Irish rural family. It is said to be a family of hospitality, friendliness and loyalty, all traits that have spread around the world from its home county.
The original Sheney family were also traditional farmers and landowners, which is something that many Sheney's continue to keep alive, either through farming activities or by being involved in the buying and selling of land.
At present, the Sheney name can be found scattered around the world with current family members based in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Despite being located in different parts of the world, the Sheney name serves as a reminder of the traditional values and hospitality of the Sheney's original rural home in Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisSheney: Where does the name Sheney come from?
The last name Sheney is most commonly found in the United States. According to the U.S. Census data, the surname is the 8,366th most common surname in the United States.
The most notable city where the name Sheney is primarily located is 387 miles away from Washington D.C. in Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago, for every 10,000 people, there are about eight Sheney people and the city accounts for around 59% of all Sheney people in the United States.
Consistent with the U.S. census data, Sheney people are scattered throughout the country but are most heavily concentrated in some of the large cities. For instance, Sheney is the 5,791st most common name in Los Angeles, California, and is the 7,722nd most common name in New York, New York. It is also the 8,867th most common name in Dallas, Texas.
Additionally, Sheney is a lesser known name internationally as well. Outside the United States, Sheney can be found in the Dominican Republic, France, Poland, and India.
Overall, Sheney is a relatively rare and uncommon name in much of the world, but it is most prominently found in the United States and is concentrated in some of the larger American cities.
Variations of the surname Sheney
The surname Sheney (or alternatively spelled Shenay, Shenai, and Shaney) is of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Sionnaigh, which is derived from the Gaelic word sionnach, meaning 'fox'.
The names O'Shany, Scarne, Senaye, Seaney, Sheany, Sheehan, Sheehan, Sheehy, Sheehans, Shena, Shenah, Shenai, Shenay, Shenaye, Shiane, Shianne, Shene, Shenay, Sheny, Shina, Shinai, Shiney, Shini, Shinnie, Shine, Shainay, Sheanny, Suoney, and Shaney are all variant spellings of Sheney and have the same Irish origin.
The name can also appear as a given name. Some variants of this name are Shaney, Shini, Shainy, Shene, Shenai, and Shenay.
The Sheney name is also found in Scotland where it is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name MacShione, meaning 'son of Shione'. This rare name originates from the Gaelic word sionnach, meaning 'fox'. Variants of the name in Scotland include MacShiano, MacShene, MacShianne, MacShieny, MacSheny, and MacShaney.
The Sheney surname is also found in England, where it is an Anglicized form of the Old English occupational name, which is derived from the Middle English word 'shene', meaning 'shine'. Variants of the name in England include Sheeney, Shiany, Shiane, Shiney, Shine, and Shainey.
Overall, the Sheney surname has many different variants, each with its own roots in either Ireland, Scotland, or England. Despite the different spellings, they all share the same origin and meaning of a 'fox'.
Famous people with the name Sheney
- Doug Sheney: American jazz drummer, pianist and television musical director
- Jacob Sheney: American comedian, podcaster and YouTube Star
- Meir Sheney: Israeli religious leader
- Mark Sheney: American Idol winner
- B. K. Sheney: British diplomat
- Jasper Sheney: American film and television actor
- Jean Sheney: French singer and actor
- Oren Sheney: Israeli Olympic kayaker
- Avi Sheney: Israeli professional eSports player
- Gavriel Sheney: Israeli chess master