Surname McElhinny - Meaning and Origin
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McElhinny: What does the surname McElhinny mean?
The last name McElhinney is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Fhinne, which comes from the Irish words for “son of the devotee of (St) Fionn”. The roots of the name are found in County Donegal, Ireland, and the name and its derivatives are still found in significant numbers throughout County Donegal today.
The spelling of the name varies widely depending on region, however the basic root words remain the same, with variant spellings including: McIlhinney, McIlhinny, MacElhinney, MacElhinny, MacIlhinney, MacIlhinny, M’Ilhinney, and M’Ilhinny. The name’s origin dates back to the 9th century, when Fionn, son of the famous Corco Duibhne, was given the lands of Corran and Lough Eyne in exchange for military service to the local kings.
The McElhinney’s were one of the 14 families of what were known as the “Clans” or “Tribes” of Donegal, and were prominent in both Eastern and Western areas of the county. As a result, the name is seen prominently throughout the history of County Donegal, with many branches of the family settling in areas such as Inishowen, Gweedore, and Blaney.
The name McElhinney is a proud and ancient one that lies at the heart of County Donegal’s history and culture. In the modern world, it is often used as a badge of honor and a reminder of one’s Irish heritage and the contributions of the people of Donegal to the Irish nation.
Order DNA origin analysisMcElhinny: Where does the name McElhinny come from?
The last name McElhinny is most common in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and particularly Northern Ireland. It is a name rooted in Irish culture and is a variant of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Chainnigh which means "Son of the follower of St. Canice".
Today, it is predominantly found in areas of Ireland and the UK where Irish emigrants settled during the 1700s and 1800s. In the Republic of Ireland, McElhinney is the 113th most common surname, and in Northern Ireland, it ranks 139th. It is also common amongst the Irish diaspora in the United States and Canada. In the US, Nielson estimated the surname McElhinney to be the 14,934th most frequent surname; in Canada, it is the 11,245th most common surname.
The origin of the McElhinney families that settled in the US are believed to have come from Ireland, arriving mainly in 18th and 19th century. It is possible that many of them were immigrants fleeing poverty, political instability, and religious persecution, or bond servants looking for opportunities elsewhere. Records of individuals with the McElhinney surname in states like Pennsylvania, New York, and California contain passenger lists dating back to the 19th century, indicating the movement of McElhinney immigrants from Ireland to the US.
The McElhinney surname has a strong presence amongst Irish communities around the world and is commonly encountered today in Ireland, the UK, North America, Australia, and other parts of Europe.
Variations of the surname McElhinny
McElhinny is a name of Irish and Scottish origin, coming from the old Gaelic name Mac giolla Chainnigh, meaning Son of the devotee of St. Caonnach. It is an anglicized variant of the older Irish name Mac Giolla Chaninigh and its different spellings and variants include MacElhinney, MacElhoney, MacElhinnein, McElhinney, McElhoney, McElhinnein, Mac Gilhinney, MacGillhinney, Mackilhinney, and MacKilhinney. This family name can also be found in many different spellings in different parts of the world, as early records from the times when surnames were first adopted show that variation in spelling has always been the norm.
Generally, the different variants and spellings of McElhinny have been brought about through translation, regional pronunciation, and age-old dialect differences. It is possible to come across some old records and variants that include spellings such as MacLhinnine, MacClhinnine, McClhinnine, McIlhenney, McHinin, McLhigin, and McLhinnin. During the years of emigration, many spelling variations have occurred, leading to a range of surnames that are very difficult to trace.
In the United States, some versions of the McElhinny family have adopted other surnames that may reflect slightly different origins. Possible extensions of the McElhinney surname include Kelhinney, Kealinney, McKehelhiney, Elhiney, Kelhinny, McKinney, McKelvin, and McKelvinney.
In conclusion, the McElhinny surname has many variants and spellings, making it difficult to trace. We can assume these surname variations were caused by translation, regional pronunciation, emigration, and other factors.
Famous people with the name McElhinny
- Melissa McElhinney: She is an Australian Television personality and presenter, best known for her work as the host of Channel Nine's The Farmer Wants a Wife.
- Ryan McElhinney: An Australian professional actor with works including Black Comedy, Little Lunch The Series, Rake, Neighbours and Doctor Doctor.
- Elissa McElhinney: An Australian artist and academic best known for her role as Associate Professor of Visual Arts at RMIT University, Melbourne.
- Pat McElhinney: A former professional American football player with the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. He was drafted in 1994 and retired in 2001.
- Gary McElhinney: A senior software engineer, and founder of NX-MAS Technologies Inc., located in Portland, Oregon, USA.
- Krystan McElhinney: An Australian singer-songwriter originally from the Mornington Peninsula who has recently released her debut EP Delicate Punisher.
- Gordon McElhinney: An Irish businessman and innovator who is the co-founder and CEO of the tech company, Pivot.ai.
- Celeste McElhinney: An American television writer and producer known for her work on shows such as American Horror Story and Grey's Anatomy.
- Sean McElhinney: An Irish film director and producer, with credits that include The Young Offenders, and The Flag.
- Lisa McElhinney: An Australian broadcaster and journalist, most recently heard on Triple J's Breakfast Show.