Surname Sweeny - Meaning and Origin

Sweeny: What does the surname Sweeny mean?

The last name Sweeny is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Suibhne" which means "son of Suibhne." The term "Suibhne" is believed to refer to a person who is pleasant or well-disposed. The family was part of a clan in Donegal, in the northern part of Ireland. In the process of Anglicization, the spelling of the last name has seen many variations such as MacSweeney, Sweeny, Sweeney, and others. Like many Irish surnames, it was widely disseminated around the world through the migration of Irish people during the time of the Great Famine in Ireland during the mid-19th century.

Sweeny: Where does the name Sweeny come from?

The last name Sweeny is mostly found in Ireland, the United States, and Canada. According to the 2017 Census of Ireland, the name is the 105th most popular surname in Ireland with approximately 3,817 people having the surname.

In the United States, the last name is not as common. According to the census bureau National Population Database, there are an estimated 48,358 people with the last name Sweeny in the U.S and is considered the 822nd most common name.

In Canada, the last name is also not as common as it is in Ireland and the U.S. According to Statistics Canada, the last name is the 4,003rd most popular surname in the country with an estimated 1,256 people having the name.

The name is most likely of Irish origin, and is an Anglicized version of the Irish name Mac Suibhne; an old Gaelic clan associated with County Sligo, in the western province of Connaught.

The name is likely derived from the Irish words “súil” and “ worries”, meaning literally “one who is worried”.

Overall, Sweeny is a surname which is most commonly found in Ireland, the United States, and Canada. It is of Irish origin and has origins going back to a Gaelic clan of the same name. While it's not as popular as other surnames, it is still quite common in the various countries it is found in.

Variations of the surname Sweeny

The surname Sweeny is of Irish and Scottish origin, with ancient roots in the feudal era. It has long been recorded in various spellings of the Gaelic language, including Mac Suibhne and O’Suibhne. The latter is an Anglicized version of the surname meaning ‘son of Suibhne’ – the latter being an old Gaelic first name of obscure origin.

Variants of the surname include: Sweeney, O'Sweeney, Swayne, Swayn, Swain, Sweaney, Sweenie, Sweeny, Sweeeney, Sweney, Swiney, Sweany and Swiny.

The surnames Mac Sweeney and O'Sweeney are associated with County Leitrim in Ireland and Kinross in Scotland, respectively. Other versions of the surname can be found throughout Ireland and the neighbouring country of Scotland. As Ireland has two official languages – English and Irish – the Gaelic spellings of the surname are of great interest to historians.

Notably, the American spelling of Sweeny is not an Anglicized version of the Irish/Scottish surname, as the more common spelling in the United States is Sweeney. This spelling was likely adopted during the period of mass Irish immigration to America during the 19th century. Despite this, the other versions of the name remain quite common in the America.

Famous people with the name Sweeny

• Ted Sweeny: former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
• Michael Sweeny: Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Johnny Sweeny: British comedian and actor.
• Sean Sweeney: professional boxer and former IBF middleweight world champion.
• Pat Sweeny: professional lacrosse player who played in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
• Niall Sweeny: Irish professional football player.
• Matthew Sweeny: renowned acoustic and electric guitarist.
• Kevin Sweeny: American professional skateboarder.
• Brent Sweeny: award-winning director and cinematographer.
• Nick Sweeny: actor, comedian and voice actor.
• Alex Sweeny: former NFL Pro Bowl running back.
• Darcel Sweeny: American singer, songwriter and producer.
• Molly Sweeny: actress known for her role in the sitcom Guys with Kids.
• Tom Sweeny: former NFL defensive end and Super Bowl champion.
• Seamus Sweeny: Irish comedian and playwright.
• Colm Sweeny: Irish actor, comedian, and presenter.
• Leah Sweeny: American television presenter and lifestyle blogger.
• Josh Sweeny: Grammy Award-winning American songwriter and producer.
• Faith Sweeny: American singer, songwriter and guitarist.
• Richard Sweeny: British actor, known for appearing in Downton Abbey.

Other surnames

SweenSweenerSweeney