Surname Devenny - Meaning and Origin
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Devenny: What does the surname Devenny mean?
The last name Devenny is of Irish origin and can be found mainly in counties Down, Galway, Antrim and Fermanagh. The name, thought to be Anglicized from Gaelic, is derived from the Irish Ó Duibhionna meaning "grandson of Dubhion," the Old Gaelic word for black.
The name Devenny first appeared in North Ireland in the 16th century. It is believed to be descendent from the Gaelic O' Duibheon, a landed family which held a grange or manor in County Antrim. This family is said to be allied with the MacDonnchadhs, a royal family that ruled Fermanagh in the 1500's.
The Devenny family has a long history of prominence in Ireland. Many members of the family have made significant contributions to the arts, healthcare, education and Irish culture throughout the centuries. The Devennys have an impressive line of accomplished musicians, including Joseph Devenny, a popular 19th century composer, performer and educator.
Today, the Devenny surname is still in use in Ireland, and there is a large Irish-American population with the name in the United States. The Devennys are still remembered for their ownership of a large manor in County Antrim, and the impact they had in Ireland and around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisDevenny: Where does the name Devenny come from?
The last name Devenny is most commonly found in Ireland. According to forebears.io, it is an Irish surname and ranked the 60,945th most common surname in the world. It is most commonly found in the Ulster counties of Donegal, Antrim, Derry, and Tyrone.
Historically, it is an old Gaelic name, derived from the Irish word "daimh", meaning ox. The Devenny family is said to have been descended from the Royal House of O'Neill in Tyrone, and were a branch of the great Tyrone O'Neill family.
Today, the Devenny name is believed to have spread over the years, from the four Ulster counties in which it was most common, into England and Scotland. It also has some recorded presence in the USA, although the records for this time period are not definitive.
Due to the high concentration of Devenny's in Ireland, it is very likely that there are still plenty of people with this name living there today - mostly in Northern Ulster counties. Additionally, descendants of the Devenny family live in other parts of the world, including countries such as England, Canada, Australia, and the United States of America.
Variations of the surname Devenny
Devenny is an Irish surname of Anglo Norman origin, commonly found in Counties Antrim and Derry in Northern Ireland. This surname has been recorded in various forms, since the time of the Anglo-Norman Conquest in the 12th century. Most variants come from the Gaelic personal name Devnet, which is thought to be derived from either Dubh + Sauin (“black hawk”) or Dubh + sene (“black water”). Common variants of Devenny include:
Devanny
The Devanny name is an Anglicized spelling of the Devenny surname. This variant is found in Northern Ireland, particularly in Antrim and Derry counties. It is also found in England, particularly in Lancashire.
Deviney
Deviney is the Americanized version of the Devenny/Devanny surname. It is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
Deveny
Deveny is the ultimate Anglicisation of the Devenny/Devanny surname. This variant is also primarily found in Antrim and Derry counties in Northern Ireland.
These three Devenny variants display the level of variation in spelling of the surname. Other, less common variants include the surnames Devaney, Devine, Devane, Devennye and Divenney. Some of these names still exist in Ireland today, but many have also migrated to North America and Australia, and can now be found around the world.
Famous people with the name Devenny
- Ryan Devenny: Ryan is an American actor best known for appearing in films and television series such as ‘School of Rock: The Series’, ‘Earth to Echo’, ‘1001 Nights’, and ‘9-1-1′.
- Ciara Devenny: Ciara is an Irish professional boxer. She has held multiple amateur titles including Irish Junior Champion, Irish Senior Champion, and a four-time champion of the European Elite Championships.
- Tom Devenny: Tom is an American professional ice hockey player. He was drafted 30th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, he has played in the AHL, the ECHL, and has made brief appearances in the NHL.
- Robert Devenny: Robert is an American actor best known for his work in films such as ‘The Dead Don’t Die’, ‘Smallfoot’, and ‘Rampage’.
- Julie Devenny: Julie is a Scottish professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor. She has appeared on the West End productions of ‘Matilda: The Musical’ and ‘Billy Elliot: The Musical’.
- David Devenny: David is an American soccer coach and former professional midfielder. He has coached at the collegiate and semi-professional levels throughout the United States.