Surname MacAweeney - Meaning and Origin
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MacAweeney: What does the surname MacAweeney mean?
The last name MacAweeney is an Anglicised version of the Irish surname Mac Aonghusa, derived from the Irish clan known as the Ó Néill or Uí Néill. The Clan Ó Néill originated in the northern part of the island of Ireland with a substantial presence in counties Monaghan, Louth, Tyrone, Armagh and Down. This noble and war-like clan was descended from rulers of ancient Ireland including High Kings and provincial kings.
The name MacAweeney means 'son of the deserved one', and the original Gaelic Irish form of the surname is spelled Mac Aonghusa. It is also seen as MacEnese and MacEnessey. Oftentimes, the prefix "Mac" was added by the English to differentiate between different branches of the same family, and this version of the surname reflects a wish of the Irish to be viewed as equals by the English. The surname is still seen in modern times in Ireland, Scotland and the diaspora.
The MacAweeney family banded together to form one of the largest clans in Ireland and a certain amount of loyalty and trust existed between the different branches. This strong sense of family pride and identity has been maintained today, and the MacAweeney clan still continues to thrive, though their numbers have dwindled significantly since historical times.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAweeney: Where does the name MacAweeney come from?
The MacAweeney surname is most commonly found throughout Ireland, particularly in the West. This is not surprising given the percentage of Irish people bearing the name. According to records from both the 2017 Census of Ireland and the UK's 2019 Census, the surname MacAweeney is most frequently found in the jurisdiction of County Kerry, followed by neighbouring County Galway and then by County Cork. As of 2019, nearly 2,600 people in Ireland possess the last name MacAweeney.
In addition, the surname is present in other parts of the world, albeit with much smaller numbers. The United Kingdom is home to a few hundred MacAweeneys, as is the United States. According to one estimate, MacAweeney is two-hundredth in the ranking of most common surnames in the US. Canadians of Irish descent have made the surname more common in Canada as well.
The surname MacAweeney is sometimes spelled McAweeny or McAweeney. It is a derivation of the Gaelic name Mac Suibhne which means “son of Suibhne”, with the latter meaning “pleasant”. As the vast majority of MacAweeney families are of Irish descent, the Irish Gaelic language has historically had a great influence behind the naming of MacAweeney families. It is not clear when the surname was first used, but it is believed to be over a thousand years old.
Variations of the surname MacAweeney
MacAweeney is an Irish surname and spelling variant of MacShuine or MacSweeney with the anglicised variations MacSwyne, MacSueeney, MacSwainey and MacSwenney.
The surname is derived from the Gaelic Mac Suibhne meaning “son of Sweeney”, a personal name of uncertain origin. However, it is likely that the original Sweeney had adopted the name from a local leader or chief, like the example of O’Sweeney.
In some cases the surname has been shortened to Sweeney, Sweney or Svyny, and in some cases the prefix has been maintained.
Variant spellings include MacSwainey, MacSwiney, MacSweeny, MacSweny, MacSwainy, MacSuay, MacSwayne and MacSweany.
Surnames of the same origin often include Swain, Swaine, Swainson, Swainston, Swinney, Swiney, Swenney, Sweaney, Suane, Swinet, Swaine, Swington, Swineford, Sweeny, Svenson and Svinson.
MacAweeney and its variants are primarily found in Ireland with concentrations in the northern counties of Donegal, Derry and Tyrone. However, the surname can also be found in various parts of Great Britain, Canada, the United States and Australia.
Famous people with the name MacAweeney
- Ryan MacAweeney: Professional golfer
- Ryan MacAweeney: Drummer for the punk-rock-ska band The Toasters
- Terry MacAweeney: Canadian television news anchor and political journalist
- Gene MacAweeney: Actor, known for The Transformers: The Movie (1986)
- Francine MacAweeney: Canadian visual artist
- Tim MacAweeney: Canadian former professional ice hockey player
- Dave MacAweeney: American folk musician and singer-songwriter
- Bob MacAweeney: Scottish-born Canadian curler
- Sean MacAweeney: Northern Irish singer-songwriter and artist
- Jack MacAweeney: American musician, known for his work with the band Bon Jovi