Surname Mahorney - Meaning and Origin
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Mahorney: What does the surname Mahorney mean?
The surname Mahorney is of Irish origin, having been derived from the Irish surname "Ó Mathghamhna," which translates to "descendant of Mathghamhna." Mathghamhna is believed to have been a diminutive of the Gaelic 'mathghamhuin,' meaning "bear." The surname may also have other connotations, as 'Mathgamhain' is an old Irish name for the month of May.
The name Mahorney first appears in written form in the late 17th century when it was recorded in various parts of Ireland. It is believed to have originated in the county of Sligo where it remains popular to this day, although the largest concentration of those bearing the surname can be found in County Cork.
While the surname Mahorney is considered to be an Irish name it is also popular in England, especially in Devon where Mahorney families were found as far back as the 16th century. Those bearing the name today can be found not just in Ireland and the United Kingdom, but around the world as people bearing the surname have migrated abroad.
The Mahorney surname is known to be associated with a strong work ethic, a desire for knowledge and a strong sense of justice and fairness. Those bearing the name are rarely known to shy away from a challenge and tend to be viewed as highly principled individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisMahorney: Where does the name Mahorney come from?
The last name Mahorney is most common today in the United States of America. It can be found in all fifty states, though the highest concentrations are in the Midwestern region, particularly in Ohio, and the Northeastern states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts. It is also found in Canada, with the greatest concentrations in Ontario and Quebec.
The last name Mahorney likely originated in Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dhonnchaidh" ("son of Donnchadh"), itself derived from the Old Irish "Donncadha". It is one of the many patronymic surnames from the Clan Donnachaidh of Perthshire. Mahorney families then followed the Scottish diaspora to the United States, taking on various regional spellings such as "McHorney" or "McHorny", and later becoming standardized to current spellings.
The Mahorney surname had many variant spellings when it first arrived, but it is believed that the earliest Mahorney families used the spelling "Mahorny". Around 1890, the "Mahorney" spelling became most standard as the number of Mahorney immigrants grew.
Mahorney families are still found around the world today, with notable branches in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Scotland, and even as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Across these countries, many descendants of the original Mahorney branches continue to carry on the family name.
Variations of the surname Mahorney
The Mahorney surname is a variant spelling of McLarnon, McNernon and McNerney, which are also Irish surnames. The variants are all variations of the Irish Gaelic name "Mac an tSaoir" which means "son of the mason". This surname is derived from the Old Irish name "Mac an tSaoir", which was a personal name meaning "son of the craftsman" or "son of the mason". The name McLarnon is likely to have been taken from the Gaelic phrase "Mac Lorcain" meaning "son of Lorcan", a personal name meaning "bold". The McNernon variant is likely to have originated from the Gaelic phrase "Mac an Earnaigh" meaning "son of Earnaigh", a personal name meaning "iron-worker". Finally, the McNerney variant is likely to have originated from the Gaelic phrase "Mac an Airchinnigh" meaning "son of Airchinnigh", a personal name meaning "stranger".
In other parts of the world, Mahorney may also be spelled Mahanity, McMahony, MacMahony, Mac Mahoney or any other variations of this surname.
The Mahorney surname likely originated in Ireland, however, it can also be found in other countries where Irish people have emigrated, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Mahorney name has spread across other countries like the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Scandinavia, among others.
Today, the Mahorney name is still quite common in countries with large Irish populations.
Famous people with the name Mahorney
- James Mahorney: American football player and coach
- Steven Mahorney: professional ice hockey player
- Lori Mahorney: Canadian actress
- Paul Mahorney: American former competitive figure skater
- David Mahorney: Former American football offensive lineman
- Fred Mahorney: American race car driver in the 1940s and 1950s
- Ann Mahorney: American artist specializing in Tuscan Expressionism
- Frank Mahorney: English footballer in the late 19th century
- Bradford Mahorney: Irish former footballer
- Petra Mahorney: New Zealand transgender rights advocate