Surname Feighney - Meaning and Origin

Feighney: What does the surname Feighney mean?

The last name Feighney is an Irish surname of Norman French origin. The Feighney surname is believed to have originated from the Barony of Falaise located in Normandy in France. The Feighney family migrated to Ireland during the Norman invasion in the 12th century, likely under the leadership of Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare or “Strongbow”.

The Feighney surname is derived from the Old Norman French word, "feignedeu" which translates to "lord of hawks" or “keeper of hawks”. The Feighney’s were likely known for their excellence in hunting and thus had earned the name. The specific coat of arms for the Feighney’s depicts a white falcon on a red background, symbolizing the family's hunting skill.

The Feighney surname is widely found in county Cork and in many parts of Irish counties Kerry and Limerick. It is also found in England and in the parts of the United States that received large waves of Irish immigrants. Common variants of Feighney include Feehany, Feighny, and Fehany.

The Feighney family is a proud Irish family who cherish their independent spirit and love of hunting. The name Feighney is a way to honor the family’s history and to remain connected to their Irish heritage.

Feighney: Where does the name Feighney come from?

The surname Feighney is most commonly found in Ireland today. It is a less frequent variation of the last name Feinney, which is derived from the Irish form of the surname Fennessy. The Feighney name is thought to have originated in the province of Leinster in the 14th century and is believed to be of Norman origin.

The Feighney surname is mostly found in the south and west of Ireland. It is most common in County Mayo, where it ranks as the 26th most popular surname. It is also quite prevalent in County Galway, where it ranks as the 29th most common surname, and in County Cork, where it ranks as the 33rd most common surname.

In the United States, the surname Feighney is most common in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York. It is also present in twenty other states, particularly those with significant Irish ancestry. The variations of the surname Feinney and Fannin can also be found in the US, particularly in states along the east coast.

The Feighney name is still widely found in Ireland today. It is particularly common in the western and southern counties, and its presence in the United States is significant, although less prevalent than in Ireland.

Variations of the surname Feighney

Feighney is an Irish surname, believed to originate from the Gaelic name Mac an Fhiodhnaigh, which translates as Son of the Wooden Highwayman.

Variant spellings of Feighney include Feighny, Feigney, Feigny, Feeny, Feany, Fheeny, Fehney, Fanny, O'Fheeny, and O'Feighney.

The original spelling, Mac an Fhiodhnaigh, was eventually anglicized into several different versions. Feighney may have been derived from Mac an Fhiodhnaigh, as well as other surnames, such as Mac an Fhiodhnaigh, McGuiness and McGuiney.

The majority of those bearing the Feighney surname are found in the provinces of Connacht and Munster in Ireland, with smaller populations in other parts of the country.

Those with the Feighney surname may be related to people with other similar surnames, such as Fannon, Feeny, Finan, Finnegan, and Finnerty.

Different spellings may be used to represent the same original name. For instance, those with the surname Feigny may also be related to people with the Feighney surname, as the two are thought to have originated from the same source. It is possible that minor variations in the spelling of a surname occurred due to regional dialect or illiteracy at different points in time.

The Feighney surname is known to be particularly widespread in the United States, and is often used as a shortened form of Feighney-O'Fheeny. Feighney is sometimes also used as an anglicized version of the O'Neill surname in Ireland.

Overall, the origin of the Feighney surname is well-documented, and its different variants and spellings will often lead back to the same source, regardless of originating region.

Famous people with the name Feighney

• Ryan Feighney: An American professional ice hockey player that plays left wing for ERC Ingolstadt in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
• Tracey Feighney: An Australian professional cyclist, who won silver in the 2003 UCI Road World Cup.
• Mike Feighney: A martial arts instructor, who holds black belts in several disciplines.
• Natalia Feighney: A former Miss Ireland contestant who is a movie producer.
• Johnny Feighney: A folk singer and songwriter from Connecticut.
• Devin Feighney: An Irish stylist, whose fashion magazine work has been featured in Grazia, Marie Claire, and other publications.
• Don Feighney: An American business executive and former CEO of McAfee, a computer security software and hardware company.
• John Feighney: An Irish politician who served as the Labour Party's Spokesperson on Equality and Human Rights from 2008 to 2011.
• Chris Feighney: A former footballer from Ireland who played for Scottish side Ross County and England's Bristol City.
• James Feighney: The co-founder and CEO of the world's largest travel rewards program, Rewards Network.

Other surnames

Feighny