Arrow Downward Arrow Downward Close Close Done Done Cart Cart clock clock
iGENEA
Personal guidance

We are always happy to help you! Contact us via e-mail or Whatsapp.

If you would like us to call you back, please provide your phone number and how you can be reached. We will be happy to call you for a personal consultation.

info@igenea.com WhatsApp

Surname Sweney - Meaning and Origin

all surnames with 'S'

Sweney: What does the surname Sweney mean?

The surname Sweney is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Suibhne". The prefix 'Mac' means 'son of' and 'Suibhne' translates to 'pleasant' or 'well-disposed'. Over time, Mac Suibhne evolved into Sweney in the English language. Therefore, the surname Sweney means 'son of the pleasant one'. The family with this surname was historically based in Donegal in the north of Ireland. Variations of the name include Sweeney, McSweeney, MacSweeney and others. As with all surnames, it's important to remember that an individual's last name represents only a fragment of their heritage, and its meaning could have different interpretations or significance to different branches of the family. It is also found in other countries due to emigration, particularly in the United States.

Order DNA origin analysis

Sweney: Where does the name Sweney come from?

The last name Sweney is not very common today, but can be found in areas of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the US, Canada, Germany, and Australia. According to an online family tree, the Sweney surname is thought to have originated in County Meath, Ireland, and from there has spread to other parts of the world. In Ireland, the family name is thought to have been derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac Sweeny," which translates to "son of Sweeney."

Sweney families can still be found in areas of northwestern Ireland, particularly in the counties of Clare, Galway, and Roscommon. In the countries of the United Kingdom, the name is most common in London, Hampshire, and Essex. Throughout the United States, the last name is somewhat distributed and is most frequently found in California, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, and Florida. In Canada, the surname is most frequent in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

The amount of Sweney's in Germany is small, but they can mostly be located in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. In Australia the name is surprisingly common for its size and is located mostly in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. In all of these places, the surname Sweney can easily be found.

Variations of the surname Sweney

Sweeney is an anglicised form of the family name O’Súilleabháin, which is of Gaelic Irish origin. The surname is derived from the Gaelic personal name Suileabhán, consisting of the elements suil (eye) and bán (white). variant spellings of the surname include Sweeny, Sweene, Sweney, Sweaney, Sweany, Swiney, Swinney, and Sweeeney.

The surname is most commonly found in Ireland and in the Irish diaspora worldwide. It is the 14th most common Irish surname with approximately 32,000 bearers recorded in the 1898 edition of Irish names and surnames. It is most commonly found in County Limerick, and with a smaller presence in Counties Cork and Kerry.

As an anglicised name, Sweeney is also common in Great Britain, mainly in England, Wales, and Scotland. The name is also found among people of Irish descent in the USA, Australia, and New Zealand.

Two notable people with the surname Sweeney include American kickboxer and actor James and British comedian Bill.

Famous people with the name Sweney

  • Freida Sweney- American silent film actress
  • Dave Sweney- Member of the New York Canucks
  • Ed Sweney- American professional basketball player
  • William Sweney- former Member of Parliament for Battersea
  • Fred Sweney- American baseball player
  • Johnny Sweney- American professional football player
  • Mark Sweney- British journalist, media editor
  • Jim Sweney- former sacristan of St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol
  • Val Sweney- English novelist
  • David Sweney- American admiral.

Other surnames

SaadiSaalmannSaalmuellerSaalmüllerSaamanthaSaamerSaanthaSaarlandSaatciSaatkampSabadilSabadillSabanciSAbanorSabathielSabathilSabbaghSabelSabineSaboSabolSabolcecSabolekSabolovic

Write comments or make additions to the name "Sweney"

Your origin analysis
-10%