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Irish surname

McInerney: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mac an Airchinnigh (popular form Mac an Oirchinnigh, often shortened to Mac an Oirchinn) · 'son of the erenagh' (Irish 'airchinneach', steward of church lands)

Woulfe (1923) gives MacInerney (McInerney) as an anglicised form of Mac an Airchinnigh, 'son of the erenagh', a steward of church lands. He calls it the name of several distinct families, among them a Roscommon family who were erenaghs of St. Patrick's church at Elphin, and a Thomond family numerous in Clare and Limerick. In 1890, Ireland's birth indexes held 64 entries for McInerney including spelling varieties (40 spelled McInerney), principally found in Clare and Limerick.

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Coat of arms associated with the McInerney surname
Irish formMac an Airchinnigh (popular form Mac an Oirchinnigh, often shortened to Mac an Oirchinn)
Meaning'son of the erenagh' (Irish 'airchinneach', steward of church lands)
CountiesClare, Limerick, Roscommon
Other spellings10

Origin of the McInerney name

Woulfe calls Mac an Airchinnigh 'the name of several distinct families, each an offshoot of one or other of the great erenagh families'. The Roscommon family, apparently a branch of Ó Branáin, were erenaghs of St. Patrick's church at Elphin. The Thomond family held property in the parish of Ballysally, lost in the Cromwellian confiscations.[1]

  1. 1487John Mac-an-Airchinnigh, Erenagh of St. Patrick's at Elphin, died (Four Masters).[5]
  2. 189064 birth entries including spelling varieties (40 spelled McInerney); Clare and Limerick.[2][4]

Where in Ireland

Co. ClareWoulfe: the Thomond family 'are numerous in Clare and Limerick'; first county named in 1890.[1][2]
Co. LimerickNamed by Woulfe for the Thomond family, and by Matheson for 1890 births.[1][2]
Co. RoscommonWoulfe: the Roscommon family of the name were erenaghs of St. Patrick's church at Elphin.[1]

Notable people named McInerney

John Mac-an-Airchinnighd. 1487'Head of his own tribe', kept a house of hospitality; Erenagh of St. Patrick's at Elphin (Four Masters).[5]

Other spellings

MacInerney · MacEnerney · MacNerney · MacNirney · MacNertney · Kinerney · Connerney · Nerney · M'Enery · M'Keniry[1]

The McInerney coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the McInerney 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.

McInerney crest gifts

Clan Mcinerney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapAR59 Classic Cap - Mcinerney Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mcinerney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Macinerney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapAC59 Classic Cap - Macinerney Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Macinerney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

McInerney surname: questions

What does the surname McInerney mean?

Woulfe gives MacInerney (McInerney) as a form of Mac an Airchinnigh, 'son of the erenagh'; he explains 'airchinneach' as a steward of church lands.[1]

Is McInerney an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe lists MacInerney, MacEnerney, MacNerney, Kinerney, Nerney and other spellings as anglicised forms of the Irish surname Mac an Airchinnigh.[1]

Where in Ireland is the McInerney name from?

Woulfe names a Roscommon family, erenaghs of St. Patrick's church at Elphin, and a Thomond family 'numerous in Clare and Limerick'. In 1890 McInerney births were principally found in Clare and Limerick.[1][2]

What is an erenagh?

Woulfe explains the Irish word 'airchinneach' (erenagh) as a steward of church lands. He says each McInerney family was an offshoot of one or other of the great erenagh families.[1]

Sources

  1. Mac an Airchinnigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/maca/mac-an-airchinnigh.php
  2. McInerney — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mcinerney.php
  3. M'Inerney — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/1388.php
  4. Table Explanation — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/table-explanation.php
  5. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1483–1492 (part 12; M1487.21) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text012.html

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