Surname Twohey - Meaning and Origin
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Twohey: What does the surname Twohey mean?
The surname Twohey is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O Tuathaigh." This name is a patronymic form meaning "descendant of Tuathach." The term "Tuathach" itself translates to "ruler of the people" or "prince," thus suggesting that the ancestors bearing this name might have held a leadership or notable rank within their tribe or community. This surname variant Twohey primarily hails from the province of Munster and is quite prevalent in counties Tipperary and Limerick. Like with many Irish surnames, varied spellings such as Toohy, Toohey, Toohie, and others are found in historical records. The exact origin or meaning may slightly differ based on geographical regions and familial lines.
Order DNA origin analysisTwohey: Where does the name Twohey come from?
The last name Twohey is most commonly found in Canada, since it is a British-derived surname. The Twohey surname is quite rare and is not found in the United States census data, but is more common in Ontario and British Columbia. The Twohey name is not the product of extensive immigration, as is the case with many other common surnames, but is believed to have originated during colonial times due to some British settlers adopting the name from the area they had traded with or settled in.
Over the years, the Twohey family has spread over the world and can now be found in Canada, the United States, England, Northern Ireland, as well as other countries. The majority of Twoheys appear to live in Canada, particularly in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, with other significant concentrations in New Brunswick, Alberta, and the United States.
The Twohey surname is likely descended from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture, which spanned from the earliest recorded instances in the fifth century AD up to the modern Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. As the Twoheys spread around the world, the spelling was often translated and changed to accommodate new languages and cultures, leading to variations of the same name. For example, instead of Twohey, variations such as Toohill, Touhey, and Tewhitt can also be found in records.
Variations of the surname Twohey
The surname Twohey is of Irish origin and is an Anglicized version of the name "O Tuathaigh" which was derived from the Gaelic word for "people of the nation". Variants and spellings of Twohey include: Towhey, Towhy, Touhey, Towy, Touy, Tuohy, Tuomy, Tuomey, Tuohie, Tohey, Toohy, and Tuohey.
The surname Twohey is also commonly seen in surnames such as Tuohy, Tuomey, Tuohie, Tuohey, Twohig, Twohy, Twohill, Twomey and Twomeys. These surnames are derived from other Irish surnames such as “Ó Tuathaigh” and “Ó Tuathaighe” which have the same basic pronunciation.
Other related Twohey names include O'Toohey, O'Tuohy, O'Toohy, O'Tuomy and O'Touhey. O'Toohey is a version of the O'Tuathaigh (son of Tuathaigh) surname. O'Tuohy and O'Toohy derive from the O'Tuathaigh name, while O'Tuomy and O'Touhey come from "Tuathaigh" which was an old form of Tuathaighe.
The surname Twohey is also associated with Tughey, Tuohey, Towey, Touhey, and Toolan. These surnames have their own distinct pronunciation and meaning but have similar roots to the Twohey name.
Finally, the surname Twohey is also associated with two different spellings for the same Irish name: O Tuathaigh and O Tuathaighé. The former is the modern spelling and refers to the Gaelic tribe. The latter is the old spelling of the same name and is an obsolete Irish form of Tuathaighe.
Famous people with the name Twohey
- Noreen Twohey: Noreen Twohey is a Canadian news reporter and had been a national news correspondent for CBC Radio.
- Jennifer Twohey: Jennifer Twohey is an American archaeologist and professor at the University of South Alabama.
- William Twohey: William Twohey is the former CEO of the Ontario Power Authority.
- Moya Twohey: Moya Twohey is an Australian writer of fiction, creative non-fiction, and digital books.
- Tim Twohey: Tim Twohey is a former NRL player and currently a strength and conditioning coach with the Melbourne Storm.
- Greg Twohey: Greg Twohey is a Canadian commissioner, lawyer, and manager of government services in the Yukon.
- Amanda Twohey: Amanda Twohey is an Australian historian and author of several books about race, national identity, and freedom.
- Anni Twohey: Anni Twohey is a Canadian political science professor and the director of the Centre for Governance and Public Policy at the University of Winnipeg.
- William Twohey Jr.: William Twohey Jr. is an American graphic designer and professor at the University of Washington Tacoma.
- Janet Twohey: Janet Twohey is a Canadian professor of English literature at the University of Waterloo.