Surname MacQueeney - Meaning and Origin
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MacQueeney: What does the surname MacQueeney mean?
The surname MacQueeney is of Gaelic origin, primarily found in Scotland and Ireland. Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Shuibhne," it means "son of Suibhne." The personal name Suibhne comes from "suibhne," meaning "pleasant" or "well-disposed." Over time, phonetic pronunciation and different dialects led to many different spellings of the name, such as MacSweeney, MacSwiney, and MacQueeney. The MacQueeney variation is less common, and it is possible that it emerged as the name moved beyond Scottish and Irish borders. Like many surnames stemming from Gaelic origin, MacQueeney is thus a patronymic name, originally used to identify individuals by their father's name or ancestral lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisMacQueeney: Where does the name MacQueeney come from?
The surname MacQueeney is believed to be of Irish origin, specifically from western areas of Ireland. The name is a variant of McQueen, which is derived from the original Gaelic form Mac Cuinn meaning "son of Conn". The principal sept of this name was based in County Westmeath. The name Conn itself comes from the Gaelic word 'ceann', meaning 'head', suggesting a leader or chief.
While exact numbers or rankings are not available, the surname MacQueeney is not particularly common today. It may be found among Irish communities around the world, including those in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. However, given the global Irish diaspora and the processes of name change, the name may be more common than expected under variant spellings. It’s worth noting that even in Ireland, the name isn't notably common. Like many other Irish names, it has likely been anglicized and changed over the years.
Variations of the surname MacQueeney
The surname MacQueeney is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name "Mac Shuibhne" which means "son of Suibhne". The name "Suibhne" is derived from the words "suibh" meaning "pleasant" and "ne" meaning "one".
There are several variant spellings of the surname MacQueeney, mostly due to pronunciation variations and transcription errors over the centuries. These include McQueeney, McQueeny, McQuiney, McQuinney, and MacQuiney.
Other times, MacQueeney could be simplified to McQueen or MacQueen. These variants, however, might also represent a completely different line of family origin.
Similar surnames that may be of the same origin are McSweeney and MacSweeney, as they are also anglicized versions of "Mac Shuibhne".
There might also be surnames related to MacQueeney in Scotland as the name Suibhne was also common there, particularly among the Gaelic clans. The Scottish version more commonly became McSween or MacSween.
Please note that surname variants can vary greatly, even within the same family line, due to factors such as regional dialects, literacy levels, and immigration records. As a result, the exact origin of these surnames can sometimes be difficult to trace.
Famous people with the name MacQueeney
There are no widely known celebrities or famous personalities with the last name 'MacQueeney'. It may be a less common surname and may not be significantly represented in the world of popular culture, entertainment, sports, politics, or academia at this time. This doesn't mean that there aren't successful people with this last name, they may just not be recognized in mainstream media or public life. Surnames can often be unique and tied to specific geographical locations or communities, and the visibility of these surnames in popular culture can differ vastly. It's worth noting that the information available can also change, with new upcoming personalities potentially putting this name in the spotlight.