Surname MacEniry - Meaning and Origin

MacEniry: What does the surname MacEniry mean?

The surname MacEniry is generally of Irish origin, often being a variant of the name “McEnery”, which is derived from the Gaelic “Mac Fhionnghualaigh” or “son of the fair-haired foreigner”. This attests to the fact that the MacEniry surname today is generally associated with the Mac Énen(n)Aig and Mac Fhinnaghta septs of County Roscommon in west-central Ireland.

The name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters in reference to the powerful MacÉnenAig chief Tadhg an Aonaigh mac Flannaghta, who was one of the chieftains deported to the Carrickfergus region of Northern Ireland during the Ulster Plantations of the 16th century. As the name is associated with merciless fighting, brutality and military victories, MacEniry is derived from “ónAi”, which means “war” or “furious”. It has also been linked to a type of machete or broadsword once used by the MacEnery family in battle.

Over the centuries, the MacEniry family has moved to other regions of Ireland, including County Limerick, where it was particularly common in East Limerick. The name has also spread to other countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Today, the name can be found in the form of MacEnery, Macenery, MacEnery, Macenery and Macneery.

MacEniry: Where does the name MacEniry come from?

The last name MacEniry is most common today in Ireland, where it has been since the Middle Ages. The surname is of Irish origin, derived from the slightly different Mac an Airchinnigh, meaning 'Son of the Interpreter'. The Irish name refers to a professional translator who acted as a negotiator between two groups in the pre-Norman period of Ireland's history.

The most well-known MacEniry family hailed from County Leitrim in Ireland's North Midlands. The 19th-century patriarch of the family, Thomas MacEniry, was a knowledgeable historian and genealogist who wrote extensively about the history of his name and raised eight children.

The name has traveled far from its ancestral roots. It is found with some frequency in Ulster, the northeast of Ireland, as well as in the Scottish Highlands. It is also somewhat common in various parts of the United States where Irish immigration was heaviest, such as Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and the Midwest.

Overall, MacEniry remains a relatively uncommon surname in contemporary times. According to the most recent census available, MacEniry was the 2,078th most common name in the world, with fewer than 10,000 people living in the United States bearing the name. It is, however, still an integral part of Irish history and culture, and its legacy will no doubt be remembered for centuries to come.

Variations of the surname MacEniry

The surname MacEniry is one of many Irish names that includes a myriad of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. In ancient times, the Gaelic form of the name was "Mac Aonghusa," which translated into the English form of MacEniry.

The MacEniry/Mac Aonghusa name is commonly found as MacEnergy, MacEnaree, MacIniere, MacInroe, Mac Kenzie or MacKerney. As with many Gaelic surnames, the use of "Mac" indicates a son of the father of the family, while the use of "O" indicates a grandson of the father of the family.

Variations of this name in other countries include the Welsh name McAnary, the Scottish name McInerney, and the French name McEnire. There are also various spellings of the Irish surname de Enraght (also spelled de Henraht or de Henrat), which is a variant of the MacEniry/Mac Aonghusa name.

Surnames of the same origin but with a different spelling may include MacEneaney, MacEneary, MacNeirney, MacNerney, and MacNinney.

The MacEniry/Mac Aonghusa name is rich in history and can be found in both heraldry and genealogy records from as far back as the late 11th century. It appears to be derived from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word “Aonhusa”, meaning enthusiastic or eager, and can often be found in records as far back as the 1590s in Scotland.

Famous people with the name MacEniry

• John MacEniry, Irish international rugby player
• Brendan MacEniry, Irish scriptwriter and producer
• Paul Anthony MacEniry, Principal Conductor of Belgian National Orchestra
• Barry MacEniry, Associate Professor at Georgetown University
• Eric MacEniry, Australian playwright
• Marty MacEniry, Major League Baseball infielder
• Val MacEniry, pool player who represented Ireland
• Patrick MacEniry, Irish politician and lawyer
• Dave MacEniry, retired Canadian ice hockey player
• Anthony MacEniry, Northern Irish baritone
• Darryl MacEniry, Canadian professional golfer
• Todd MacEniry, comedian and radio host
• Jack MacEniry, retired Canadian ice hockey coach
• Cathal MacEniry, former professional Gaelic football player
• Donal MacEniry, former singer-songwriter from Ireland
• Des MacEniry, former Irish Gaelic Football Manager

Other surnames

MacEniff