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Irish surname

McKenna: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mac Cionaoith · 'son of Cionaodh'

McKenna comes from Mac Cionaodha or Mac Cionaoith, 'son of Cionaodh' (Woulfe, 1923). Woulfe names a family of the southern Ui Neill who were chiefs of the barony of Trough in north Co. Monaghan, and a family in Co. Roscommon who were followers of the O'Connors. Matheson's 1890 survey ranked McKenna 88th in Ireland, with about 9,000 people.

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Coat of arms associated with the McKenna surname
Irish formMac Cionaoith
Meaning'son of Cionaodh'
CountiesMonaghan, Roscommon, Antrim, Tyrone
Other spellings10

Origin of the McKenna name

Woulfe: 'the name of a family who, though belonging to the southern Ui Neill, were chiefs of the barony of Trough in the north of Co. Monaghan; and also of a family in Co. Roscommon who were followers of the O'Connors.'[1]

  1. 1771John (Juan) McKenna born, 26 October; later a soldier in Chile.[2]
  2. 1814John McKenna dies in a duel in Buenos Aires, 21 November.[2]
  3. 1890McKenna is 88th of Ireland's principal surnames, about 9,000 people.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. MonaghanChiefs of the barony of Trough in the north of the county; a principal county of the name in 1890.[1][4]
Co. RoscommonA separate family of the name, followers of the O'Connors.[1]
Co. AntrimFirst of the counties where McKenna was principally found in the 1890 Births Index.[4]
Co. TyroneOne of the counties where McKenna was principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. KerryPrincipal county in 1890; Woulfe says the spoken form there is corrupted to Mag Cineáith.[1][4]

Notable people named McKenna

John (Juan) McKenna1771–1814Soldier; 'a leading figure in the establishment of Chile as an independent nation'; born Clogher (Tyrone) or Aghaninimy (Monaghan).[2]

Other spellings

MacKenna · M'Kinna · M'Kenay · M'Kena · MacKinney · MacKinny · MacKenny · MacKeany · Kenny · Mac Cionaodha[1]

The McKenna coat of arms

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

McKenna crest gifts

Clan Mackenna Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap KO53 Mackenna Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Mackenna Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45Clan Mackenna Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapWY85 Classic Cap - Mackenna Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mackenna Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Mckenna Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapJX14 Classic Cap - Mckenna Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mckenna Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45

McKenna surname: questions

What does the surname McKenna mean?

Woulfe gives McKenna as an anglicised form of Mac Cionaodha or Mac Cionaoith, 'son of Cionaodh'.[1]

Where in Ireland is McKenna from?

Woulfe names chiefs of the barony of Trough in north Co. Monaghan and a family in Co. Roscommon. In 1890 McKenna was found principally in Antrim, Monaghan, Tyrone, Kerry, Armagh, Dublin and Louth.[1][4]

Why are there McKennas in Kerry?

Woulfe says that in Kerry, Cork and Limerick the name is corrupted in speech to Mag Cineáith, 'but the old anglicised forms in these counties show the true origin', i.e. Mac Cionaoith.[1]

How common is McKenna in Ireland?

Matheson's survey of the 1890 Births Index ranked McKenna 88th of the hundred principal surnames, with an estimated 9,000 people.[3]

Sources

  1. Mac Cionaodha, Mac Cionaoith — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macc/mac-cionaodha-mac-cionaoith.php
  2. John McKenna (1771–1814) — Dictionary of Ulster Biography, Ulster History Circle (newulsterbiography.co.uk). newulsterbiography.co.uk/index.php/home/viewPerson/1026
  3. 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
  4. McKenna — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mckenna.php

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