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Irish surname

McSweeney: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mac Suibhne · 'son of Suibhne' (well-going)

Woulfe (1923) gives MacSweeney, MacSwiney, Sweeney and related spellings as anglicised forms of Mac Suibhne, 'son of Suibhne', the name of a great military family 'formerly famous throughout Ireland as captains of gallowglasses'. Settled in Tirconnell as gallowglass captains to O'Donnell, they branched into three great septs, of Fanad, of Baghnagh (Banagh, west Co. Donegal) and of the Tory districts, and a branch served the MacCarthys in Desmond, with castles in Muskerry. In 1890 Sweeney and Sweeny births were principally found in Cork, Donegal, Mayo and Kerry, and McSweeney births in Cork.

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Coat of arms associated with the McSweeney surname
Irish formMac Suibhne
Meaning'son of Suibhne' (well-going)
CountiesDonegal, Cork, Mayo, Kerry
Other spellings8

Origin of the McSweeney name

Woulfe, citing MacFirbis: descended from Suibhne, son of Donnshléibhe Ó Néill and lord of Knapdale in Argyle, about the beginning of the 13th century. Murchadh, Suibhne's grandson, 'mentioned in the Annals at the year 1267', was the first of the name to come to Ireland. Early in the next century they settled in Tirconnell as captains of gallowglasses to O'Donnell.[1]

  1. About the beginning of the 13th centurySuibhne, son of Donnshléibhe Ó Néill, lord of Knapdale in Argyle (per MacFirbis).[1]
  2. 1267Murrough Mac Sweeny taken prisoner in Umallia; died in the Earl's prison.[7]
  3. Early in the next centuryMacSweeneys settle permanently in Tirconnell as gallowglass captains to O'Donnell (Woulfe).[1]
  4. 1378Death of Turlough Mac Sweeny, High Constable of Connaught.[8]
  5. 1399Death of Turlough, son of Mulmurry Mac Sweeny of Fanaid.[9]
  6. 1890Sweeney/Sweeny 254 entries incl. varieties (166 Sweeney, 82 Sweeny); McSweeney 29 incl. varieties (13 so spelled).[4][5][6]

Where in Ireland

Co. DonegalMacSweeney of Baghnagh, now the barony of Banagh, in the west of Co. Donegal (Woulfe).[1]
Co. CorkMcSweeney births principally found in Cork in 1890; Cork is also named first for Sweeney/Sweeny.[4][5]
Co. MayoAmong the counties where Sweeney/Sweeny births were principally found in 1890.[5]
Co. KerryAmong the counties where Sweeney/Sweeny births were principally found in 1890.[5]

Notable people named McSweeney

Murrough Mac Sweenyrecorded 1267Four Masters, 1267: taken prisoner in Umallia and delivered up to the Earl, 'in whose prison he died'.[7]
Turlough Mac Sweenyd. 1378High Constable of Connaught; his death is recorded by the Four Masters under 1378.[8]

Other spellings

MacSweeney · MacSweeny · MacSwiney · Sweeney · Sweeny · Swiney · MacSween · MacSeveney[1]

Scottish connection

Woulfe, citing MacFirbis, says the family descends from Suibhne, lord of Knapdale in Argyle, about the beginning of the 13th century. He adds that in Scotland the name 'is generally Mac Shuibhne', 'but MacSween still survives as an anglicised form'. Under Mac Shuibhne he prints 'M'Queyn, M'Quine, MacQueen, Maqueen, &c.; a variant of Mac Suibhne ... a Scottish surname'.[1][3]

The McSweeney coat of arms

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

McSweeney crest gifts

Clan Macsweeney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap RR35 Macsweeney Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Macsweeney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Macsweeney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapCT74 Classic Cap - Macsweeney Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Macsweeney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Mcsweeney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapPX81 Classic Cap - Mcsweeney Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mcsweeney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

McSweeney surname: questions

What does the surname McSweeney mean?

Woulfe gives MacSweeney as a form of Mac Suibhne, 'son of Suibhne', a personal name he glosses as 'well-going'.[1]

Is McSweeney Irish or Scottish?

Woulfe, citing MacFirbis, says the family descends from Suibhne, lord of Knapdale in Argyle, about the beginning of the 13th century, and that Suibhne's grandson Murchadh was the first of the name to come to Ireland. Early in the next century the MacSweeneys settled in Tirconnell as captains of gallowglasses to O'Donnell. In Scotland, he says, the name is generally Mac Shuibhne, but MacSween still survives as an anglicised form.[1][3]

What were the MacSweeney gallowglasses?

Woulfe calls the MacSweeneys 'a great military family, formerly famous throughout Ireland as captains of gallowglasses', serving O'Donnell in Tirconnell and, in a branch from Fanad, the MacCarthys in Desmond.[1]

Are Sweeney and McSweeney the same name?

Woulfe lists Sweeney and Swiney with MacSweeney, MacSwiney and MacSweeny as anglicised forms of Mac Suibhne, and Sweeny under Ó Suibhne, a very rare variant formed by substituting Ó for Mac.[1][2]

Where in Ireland is the McSweeney name found?

Woulfe names three septs, of Fanad, of Baghnagh (now the barony of Banagh, west Co. Donegal) and of the Tory districts, and a Muskerry branch in Desmond. In 1890 Sweeney/Sweeny births were principally found in Cork, Donegal, Mayo and Kerry, and McSweeney births in Cork.[1][4][5]

Sources

  1. Mac Suibhne — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macs/mac-suibhne.php
  2. Ó Suibhne — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/os/o-suibhne.php
  3. Mac Shuibhne — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macs/mac-shuibhne.php
  4. McSweeney — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mcsweeney.php
  5. Sweeney — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/sweeney.php
  6. 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
  7. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1267 (part 10) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005C/text010.html
  8. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1378 (part 1) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text001.html
  9. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1399 (part 3) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text003.html

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