Surname McAnany - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McAnany: What does the surname McAnany mean?
The surname McAnany is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Annáin, which means "son of Annán." The name Annán is believed to be a diminutive form of the given name Annadh, meaning "ardent" or "eager." Thus, McAnany roughly translates to "son of the ardent one." This surname is primarily found in the northern counties of Ireland, specifically in areas of Ulster, such as County Donegal and County Monaghan. As with many Irish surnames, variations in spelling can occur based on the phonetic transcription during the time of immigration or anglicization, resulting in variations like McAneny, McEnaney, or McAneney. Despite these variations, the root and meaning of the name remain the same.
Order DNA origin analysisMcAnany: Where does the name McAnany come from?
The surname McAnany is of Irish origin; it is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac an Fhailghigh, meaning "son of the poor man." The prefix "Mac" indicates "son of," a common element in many Irish surnames, while "an Fhailghigh" translates to "the poor man." This may not necessarily indicate financial poverty; it could also refer to humility or a religious vow of poverty.
The McAnany name is relatively uncommon, meaning it's not copiously found in any particular area of the world today. However, its highest concentrations are typically seen in countries with significant populations of Irish descent, such as Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Given its Irish origins, one can expect areas historically associated with Irish migration, particularly Boston and New York in the U.S., to have residents bearing the McAnany surname. Nonetheless, the size of these populations would still be comparatively small. It should also be noted that, like many surnames, variations in spelling can exist, potentially broadening the geographical spread and frequency of the name.
Variations of the surname McAnany
The surname McAnany is Irish in origin, and is derived from the Gaelic name Mac an tSionnaigh, meaning "son of the fox". This surname has different variations and spellings that have changed over time and as families migrated to different regions. Important to note that the Mac and Mc prefixes essentially mean the same thing ('son of') and are typically seen in Irish and Scottish names.
Some variants and alternate spellings of this name include: McAnnany, McEnaney, McEnanny, McAneny, McCann, McInaney, McAnaney, and Mackenany. It would be common to find varying differences in the spellings of these names, possibly due to translation or transcription errors in historical documents or immigration records.
Surnames related to McAnany, by heritage or possible common ancestry, might include O'Fox (since McAnany originated from "son of the fox"), O'Sionnaigh, Fox, and possibly Shanahan.
Again, it is important to note that one's surname does not necessarily determine one's genealogy or family history. Further investigation into individual family records is recommended for verifying lineage and descent.
Famous people with the name McAnany
- Stephen McAnany: Actor, Producer, Writer
- Nancy McAnany: Writer
- Thomas McAnany: CEO and Chairman of Lee Company
- Sean McAnany: Professional Baseball Player
- Jack McAnany: Professional Football Player
- Mike McAnany: Vocalist for the band Hotfoot
- Ed McAnany: Professional Basketball Player
- Lisa McAnany: Actress
- Brian McAnany: Musician and Composer
- Kelly McAnany: Singer/Songwriter