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Irish surname

Kenny: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Cionaodha · 'descendant of Cionaodh' (fire-sprung)

Kenny is an anglicised form of Ó Cionaodha, 'descendant of Cionaodh' (fire-sprung), which Woulfe (1923) calls the name of several distinct families in different parts of Ireland. Woulfe also lists Kenny among the forms of other Irish surnames, including Mac Cionaodha of Monaghan and Roscommon. In Matheson's 1890 survey Kenny was the 76th commonest surname in Ireland, with about 9,600 people.

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Coat of arms associated with the Kenny surname
Irish formÓ Cionaodha
Meaning'descendant of Cionaodh' (fire-sprung)
CountiesDublin, Galway, Roscommon, Monaghan
Other spellings5

Origin of the Kenny name

Woulfe: Ó Cionaodha (also Ó Cionaoith) was the name of several distinct families; in the 16th century it was common in all parts of Leinster and Munster, and in Galway, Roscommon and Tyrone. Kenny can also stand for Mac Cionaodha (Trough, Co. Monaghan; and Roscommon), Mac Giolla Choinnigh, and, in brackets, Ó Coinne.[1][2][3][4]

  1. 16th centuryÓ Cionaodha common throughout Leinster and Munster, and in Galway, Roscommon, Tyrone.[1]
  2. 16th centuryMac Giolla Choinnigh, another source of Kenny, found in Roscommon, Leitrim, Donegal, Down.[3]
  3. 1890Kenny is Ireland's 76th commonest surname, about 9,600 people.[5]

Where in Ireland

Co. DublinFirst-named county for Kenny births in 1890; Leinster had 95 of 216 entries.[6]
Co. GalwayÓ Cionaodha common there in the 16th century; principal county again in 1890.[1][6]
Co. RoscommonÓ Cionaodha in the 16th century; a Mac Cionaodha family followed the O'Connors; principal county in 1890.[1][2][6]
Co. MonaghanMac Cionaodha, a southern Ui Neill family, were chiefs of the barony of Trough.[2]
Co. TyroneWoulfe says Ó Cionaodha was common here in the 16th century.[1]

Other spellings

O Kenny · Kinney · Kenna · Kinna · MacKenny[1]

The Kenny coat of arms

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

Kenny crest gifts

Clan Okenny Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapIZ54 Classic Cap - Okenny Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Okenny Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Kenny Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapQW96 Classic Cap - Kenny Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Kenny Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Okenny Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap OL72 Okenny Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Okenny Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45Clan Kenny Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap ZA72 Kenny Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Kenny Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45

Kenny surname: questions

What does the surname Kenny mean?

Where it comes from Ó Cionaodha, it means 'descendant of Cionaodh', a name Woulfe glosses as fire-sprung. Where Kenny comes from Mac Giolla Choinnigh, the meaning is 'son of Giolla Choinnigh' (servant of St Canice, or Kenny).[1][3]

Is Kenny an Irish surname?

Yes. Woulfe gives Kenny as an anglicised form of several Irish surnames: Ó Cionaodha, Mac Cionaodha and Mac Giolla Choinnigh, and, in brackets, Ó Coinne.[1][2][3][4]

Where in Ireland is Kenny from?

There is no single origin. Woulfe says Ó Cionaodha was the name of several distinct families and was common in the 16th century in Leinster, Munster, Galway, Roscommon and Tyrone. In 1890 Kenny was principally found in Dublin, Galway and Roscommon.[1][6]

Sources

  1. Ó Cionaodha, Ó Cionaoith — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-cionaodha.php
  2. Mac Cionaodha, Mac Cionaoith — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macc/mac-cionaodha-mac-cionaoith.php
  3. Mac Giolla Choinnigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macg/mac-giolla-choinnigh.php
  4. Ó Coinne — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-coinne.php
  5. Principal Surnames in Ireland (table of 100 principal surnames, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/principal-surnames-ireland.php
  6. Kenny — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/kenny.php
  7. Kenny — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), list no. 992, transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/992.php

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