Home › Irish Surnames › Kearney

Irish surname

Kearney: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Cearnaigh; Mac Cearnaigh; Ó Ceithearnaigh (and others) · Ó Cearnaigh / Mac Cearnaigh: from Cearnach (victorious); Ó Ceithearnaigh: from Ceithearnach (foot-soldier)

Woulfe (1923) gives Kearney as an English form of Ó Cearnaigh and Mac Cearnaigh, from Cearnach ('victorious'). He also prints it, in brackets, among the forms of Ó Ceithearnaigh, from Ceithearnach ('foot-soldier'), whose anglicised forms he says cannot always be told apart from those of Ó Cearnaigh. In 1890 Kearney was 'found all over Ireland but chiefly in Dublin, Cork and Antrim'.

Shop Kearney crest giftsRead the history
Coat of arms associated with the Kearney surname
Irish formÓ Cearnaigh; Mac Cearnaigh; Ó Ceithearnaigh (and others)
MeaningÓ Cearnaigh / Mac Cearnaigh: from Cearnach (victorious); Ó Ceithearnaigh: from Ceithearnach (foot-soldier)
CountiesDublin, Cork, Antrim, Mayo
Other spellings4

Origin of the Kearney name

Ó Cearnaigh was borne by (1) a Dalcassian family who later attained a high position at Cashel, (2) an Ui Fiachrach family in Mayo (parishes of Moynulla and Balla) and (3) erenaghs of Derry. Mac Cearnaigh's original home appears to have been Ballymacarney, Co. Meath. Ó Ceithearnaigh: Roscommon and West Cork families.[1][2][3]

  1. 16th centuryMac Cearnaigh found chiefly in Ulster: Down, Armagh and Donegal.[2]
  2. 16th centuryÓ Ceithearnaigh 'rather widespread': Tipperary, Kilkenny, Westmeath, Offaly, Donegal, Roscommon, Cork.[3]
  3. 1890147 Kearney births registered, chiefly in Dublin, Cork and Antrim.[5]

Where in Ireland

Co. DublinFirst county named for Kearney births in 1890.[5]
Co. CorkA chief Kearney county in 1890; a West Cork Ó Ceithearnaigh family (Woulfe).[5][3]
Co. AntrimAmong the chief Kearney counties in 1890.[5]
Co. MayoÓ Cearnaigh of Ui Fiachrach held extensive possessions in Moynulla and Balla parishes.[1]
Co. MeathBallymacarney appears to have been the original home of Mac Cearnaigh.[2]
Co. DerryAn Ó Cearnaigh ecclesiastical family were formerly erenaghs of Derry.[1]

Other spellings

O'Kearney · Carney · MacKearney · MacCarney[1]

The Kearney coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Kearney surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Kearney crest gifts

Clan Okearney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap IU41 Okearney Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Okearney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Okearney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapCT82 Classic Cap - Okearney Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Okearney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Kearney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapAZ12 Classic Cap - Kearney Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Kearney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Kearney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap NS92 Kearney Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Kearney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Kearney surname: questions

Is Kearney an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe gives Kearney as an anglicised form of Ó Cearnaigh and Mac Cearnaigh, and also prints it, in brackets, among the forms of Ó Ceithearnaigh and Mac Ceithearnaigh.[1][2][3][4]

What does the surname Kearney mean?

For Ó Cearnaigh and Mac Cearnaigh, 'descendant' or 'son of Cearnach' (victorious). For Ó Ceithearnaigh, 'descendant of Ceithearnach' (foot-soldier).[1][2][3]

Where in Ireland is the Kearney name from?

Several places. Woulfe names Ó Cearnaigh families of the Dalcassians, of Mayo and of Derry, and a Mac Cearnaigh family first at Ballymacarney, Co. Meath. In 1890 the name was 'found all over Ireland but chiefly in Dublin, Cork and Antrim'.[1][2][5]

Are Kearney and Carney the same name?

Woulfe lists both Kearney and Carney as anglicised forms of Ó Cearnaigh and of Mac Cearnaigh.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Ó Cearnaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-cearnaigh.php
  2. Mac Cearnaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macc/mac-cearnaigh.php
  3. Ó Ceithearnaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ceithearnaigh.php
  4. Mac Ceithearnaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macc/mac-ceithearnaigh.php
  5. Kearney — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/kearney.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).