Surname MacKenney - Meaning and Origin
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MacKenney: What does the surname MacKenney mean?
The surname MacKenney originates from Gaelic culture and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Coinnigh, which translates to "son of Coinneach". The name Coinneach itself is derived from the personal name “Cainnech” or “Canice”, which means “good-looking” or "handsome". Thus, MacKenney essentially refers to "son of the handsome one" or "descendant of the good-looking". As with many other surnames that start with 'Mac' or 'Mc', it denotes familial relations. It's important to note that the spelling of surnames can often vary significantly due to regional differences and changes over time. Variations of the name MacKenney include Mackenna, Mackenney, MacKenny, and McKenna amongst others. The name is said to have originated from Scotland and Ireland before spreading to other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKenney: Where does the name MacKenney come from?
The surname MacKenney has Gaelic origins and is derived from the personal name Coinneach, meaning "handsome" or "comely." It originated in Scotland and Ireland due to the patronymic tradition of naming where 'Mac' or ‘Mc’ denotes 'son of'. Variations of the name include MacKenzie, Mackenny, McKenny, and many others according to different regional pronunciations and translations.
The geographical distribution of the MacKenney surname is widespread, but it is primarily found in English-speaking countries. Today, the name is moderately common in Scotland and Ireland due to its origins, but it is also found in significant numbers in the United States, Canada, and Australia due to the historical emigration of the Scots and Irish. However, despite its geographical spread, it is still a relatively rare surname overall. It's important to acknowledge that historical migration patterns mean many Scottish and Irish surnames are now found worldwide, and MacKenney is no exception to this trend.
Variations of the surname MacKenney
The surname MacKenney has its roots in Gaelic culture and is derived from the Scottish personal name Coinneach which means "handsome" or "comely". The prefix "Mac" translates to "son of" so MacKenney essentially means "son of Kenney".
This surname can be found under several spellings and variants due to regional variations, phonetic spelling and cultural influences. Some common variations of MacKenney include Mackenney, Mackinney, McKinney, MacKenny, MacKenna, MacKenzie, and M'Kenney.
It's also connected to the surnames Kenney, Kenny, Kenne, Kenna, and Kenney which have similar roots. Sometimes, it may even be confused with or altered to MacKinnon or McKinnon due to the phonetic similarity.
Further, because the Gaelic alphabet has fewer letters than the English one, variations occurred more freely. This explains why there is such a large number of variations for many Scottish and Irish names.
So, while MacKenney is the core spelling, its variants and related surnames are numerous owing to regional, cultural, and phonetic factors.
Famous people with the name MacKenney
- Heather MacKenney: American radio host, writer, and television producer
- Marisa Mackenney: Canadian-born actress and comedian
- Patrick Mackenney: Former Irish international footballer
- William Mackenney: Former Home Secretary of the United Kingdom
- Frank MacKenney: American songwriter, and composer
- Duncan MacKenzie: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Jim MacKenzie: Former Major League Baseball umpire
- David Mackenney: Australian field hockey player
- Ed MacKenzie: Former NHL ice hockey player
- John MacKenzie: Australian rugby union player
- Bill Mackenney: Former member of Irish folk-rock band Scullion
- Keith MacKenzie: Professional golfer
- Gordon MacKenzie: Scottish author, playwright, broadcaster, and journalist
- Tom MacKenzie: Scottish mountain biker
- Will MacKenzie: American professional golfer