Surname McEnery - Meaning and Origin

McEnery: What does the surname McEnery mean?

The surname McEnery is of Irish origin and is derived from the old Gaelic name "Mac an Oirchinnigh". This translates to "son of the Urchin" or "son of the sea urchin". "Mac" is a patronymic prefix denoting "son of". Hence this surname is a traditional Irish patronymic surname. It's often associated with people native to western Ireland, specifically counties Kerry and Limerick. The last name may undergo several spelling variations, including MacEnery, MacInerny, MacInerney, and others due to the transliteration from Gaelic to English. Like many Gaelic surnames, McEnery may have indicated a family occupation or characteristic of the original bearers. As surnames were passed down through generations, McEnery is now a powerful signifier of Irish heritage.

McEnery: Where does the name McEnery come from?

The surname McEnery is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac an Airchinnigh which translates to 'son of the erenagh'. An erenagh was a hereditary steward of church lands, so the family likely has a history tied to religious service. The surname is a variation of many similar ones such as MacEniry, MacInerney, McInerney, and others.

Today, the surname McEnery is predominant in Ireland due to its origins, specifically in the West Munster region. It is particularly associated with County Limerick. Moreover, due to historic emigration from Ireland particularly during the time of the Great Famine in the mid-19th Century, the surname has also spread to other English-speaking countries. Today it can be found in varying amounts in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Nevertheless, it remains most common in Ireland.

Variations of the surname McEnery

The surname McEnery has variants and spellings that stem from its Irish origin, primarily from the Gaelic name "Mac an Airchinnigh." While McEnery is the most commonly used form, additional variants include MacEnery, MacInerney, McInerney, MacInerny, McInerny, MacNerney, McNerney, MacNerny, McNerny, MacEniry, McEniry, MacIniry, McIniry, MacEnerney, McEnerney, MacEinery, McEinery, and MacInerheney. Additionally, the transformation of the Mac prefix (which means "son of" in Gaelic) to Mc in many names is also a common variation.

Due to geographical dialects and phonetics, along with genealogical record-keeping variations, the spelling of the surname may have been altered over centuries and generations.

Lastly, there might also be anglicized versions of the name today, created to make the name easier to spell and pronounce in non-Irish speaking countries. For example, MacHenry, McHenry, or even Henry might be forms of the name evolved from McEnery. As this name has been carried through various generations and crossed several countries' borders, the spelling has inevitably evolved.

Famous people with the name McEnery

• Steve McEnery: American actor of stage and screen and former model.
• Niall McEnery: Former Gaelic footballer from Derry.
• Ciara McEnery: Irish advertising executive and writer.
• John McEnery: English actor, singer, and director.
• James McEnery: Irish manager, coach and commentator.
• Caroline McEnery: Irish novelist, poet and short story writer.
• Robert McEnery: American professional golfer.
• Mark McEnery: American professional football player.
• Michael McEnery: American beagle breeder and show handler.
• William McEnery: American radio personality.
• Joe McEnery: English football player.
• Barry McEnery: Irish-born American film and television actor.
• Laura McEnery: Australian actress and writer.
• Dean McEnery: English footballer.
• Tony McEnery: British linguist, lexicographer and academic.
• Bill McEnery: American politician and former army Colonel.
• Sean McEnery: Irish politician and former Lord Mayor of Dublin.
• Christopher McEnery: British composer.
• Joseph McEnery: American politician and Governor of Louisiana.
• Lawrence McEnery: American lawyer and Brigadier General in the American Civil War.

Other surnames

McEneanyMcEnellyMcEnenyMcEnerney