Surname McBirney - Meaning and Origin

McBirney: What does the surname McBirney mean?

The surname McBirney is of Irish origin and it is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Biorna" or "Mac Birney." The prefix "Mac" means "son of," hence the name translates to "son of Biorna" or "son of Birney." The exact meaning of the name "Biorna" or "Birney" is unclear, but it is likely a personal name. Surnames that are prefixed with 'Mac' were common in Gaelic societies and were generally patronymic in nature, signifying direct lineal descent from a named ancestor. It is also important to note that the spelling of such surnames has evolved over time due to a variety of factors such as migration, anglicization, and regional linguistic differences. Thus, the same name could be spelled in a variety of ways like McBurney, McBirnie, and more.

McBirney: Where does the name McBirney come from?

The surname McBirney is of Irish origin. It stemmed from the Gaelic name Mac Biorna. The Mac prefix translates to "son of," and Biorna is a personal name, so the name means "son of Biorna." This surname is part of a larger group of surnames that are from patronyms, which are derived from the given name of an ancestor. The original Gaelic form of the name is Mac Biorain.

Today, McBirney is not an overly common surname. Many of the bearers of this surname are found in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, among descendants of Irish immigrants. However, it's likely that the largest concentrations of people with the McBirney surname are still in Ireland, specifically in areas where the name originated. There, surnames are still quite regional, hence you'll find common surnames concentrated in their places of origin.

Please note, the ebbs and flows of emigration can make it hard to say where a relatively rare surname like McBirney is most common today. More people may have moved away from the original area making the name more common elsewhere.

Variations of the surname McBirney

The surname McBirney has a few spelling variants that have been used throughout history. Some of these include McBurney, MacBurney, MacBirney, McBerney, and MacBerney. These different spellings are a result of the surname being Anglicized from the original Gaelic, as well as regional variations and transcription errors in historical documents.

The "Mc" and "Mac" prefixes in the surname means "son of," so the variants of McBirney essentially refer to "son of Birney." The name 'Birney, Burney or Berney' most likely refers to a location, person, or trait, according to common naming conventions of the period.

In terms of surnames of the same origin, it's likely that any surname with the Birney, Burney or Berney component could have come from the same root, even if they don't include the "Mc" or "Mac" prefix. As with many surnames, McBirney likely was derived from a clan or familial group in Ireland or Scotland, where the surname is most commonly found.

The surname is relatively rare, so its variations are not as numerous or well-documented as more common surnames. Despite this, those who bear these surnames share a common heritage and driving connection to the historical roots of the name.

Famous people with the name McBirney

• Mandy McBirney: Actress best known for roles in TV series Big Mouth and Join or Die.
• Iain McBirney: Musician and songwriter who is signed with Atlantic Records.
• Declan McBirney: Professional cyclist and two-time national champion.
• David McBirney: Retired soccer player who played for Everton in the 1990s.
• Evanna McBirney: Award-winning playwright and screenwriter.
• Colin McBirney: Bestselling author and motivational speaker.
• Ryan McBirney: TV chef and restaurateur.
• Sean McBirney: Long-distance runner, winner of the 2018 Great North Run.
• Eleanor McBirney: Accomplished violinist and professor of music at the University of London.
• Keir McBirney: NASA astronaut who flew on the inaugural mission of the Ares IV spacecraft.

Other surnames

McBirnie