Surname Kearny - Meaning and Origin

Kearny: What does the surname Kearny mean?

The surname Kearny is an Irish and Scots-Irish surname of Gaelic origin. It is derived from the name Cearnaigh, which itself is derived from the Gaelic word “cearn,” meaning ‘cairn’ or a rocky hill or mound. This surname is believed to have originated from either in Ireland or Scotland, and would have been used by a family or individual who lived close to a cairn, most likely as a landmark or a marker to point the way. The surname is also said to be derived from the Gaelic phrase ‘carna’, which translates to ‘rock’ or ‘promontory’.

The surname Kearny is found as far back as the 1600s in Ulster, Ireland, where it is still a common name, particularly in County Antrim and County Down. Parts of Scotland also claim the name, with its presence being most commonly found in the counties of Fife, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Midlothian, where it is thought to have become "Kearney".

Throughout history, the name Kearny has been associated with quality and integrity. Kearneys in Ireland are often said to be outspoken yet hardworking individuals and, indeed, the name is rooted in a strong sense of tradition and is steeped in Irish history and culture. The name itself is considered quite distinctive and, to this day, is still heavily associated with the Emerald Isle.

Kearny: Where does the name Kearny come from?

The surname Kearny is most common throughout the United States, particularly in New York, California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Originally an Irish surname, it was brought to America by immigrants during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Although it does still exist to some degree in Ireland, and has spread around the world through Irish emigration, it is most common in America. The highest concentration of Kearny's is in Staten Island, New York. This is because the name originates from an Irishman called Eugene Kearney who settled in Staten Island in the late 1800s. Many of his descendants can still be found there today.

The surname is also popular throughout California, New Jersey and Massachusetts, with many counties across each of the states having a higher-than-average number of Kearny's living there. The surname can also be found in the Midwest and some Southern states, and in various cities up and down the east and west coasts.

Although the name Kearny can be found in various places around the world today, it is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the Northeastern states. As the majority of those who first emigrated to America with this surname lived in that part of the country, this has led to the name being more widely associated with this region than any other.

Variations of the surname Kearny

The surname Kearny is derived from the Irish Mac Cearnaigh, which is an anglicisation of the Gaelic Mac Fhiachra, meaning "son of Fhiachra". It can also be spelled as Kerny, Kearney, Kearnie, Kearnye, Kerney, MacCearney and Carney. The name originated when a member of the O'Ciaragain family moved to the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland where they became known as MacCearnaigh.

The surname is also found in Scotland and England. In Scotland, the form Carne or Karn is known with various variants of the spelling such as Carney, Carny, Kearny and Kerny. It is believed that the name originated in Ulster, but it may have come with the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1170 which brought Irish families over to settle in England and Scotland.

In England and America, the surname Kearny is common. Variations of the surname include Kearney, Carney and Kerney. In America the surname is most frequently found in the towns of Kearney in Nebraska, and Kearny in New Jersey, both of which were named after Major General Philip Kearny, who fought in the American Civil War.

The surname has many variants and spellings, however, the original Gaelic form remained the same. Some of the other spellings of the surname are Cairn, Carni, Karni, Karny and MacCarn. No matter how it is spelt, or where it is found in the world, the original form is still Mac Cearnaigh, meaning "son of Fhiachra".

Famous people with the name Kearny

• Lawrence Kearny: American admiral and commander in the U.S. Navy.
• Sgt. Philip Kearny: Civil War Union Army officer and Medal of Honor recipient.
• Diane Kearny: British author and illustrator of children's books.
• Stephen W. Kearny: American officer in the Mexican-American War and War of 1812.
• Madeline Kearney: American composer and musician.
• Richard Kearney: Irish philosopher.
• Ruth Kearney: Irish actress.
• Michael Kearney: American child prodigy.
• John B. Kearny: American brigadier general in the Revolutionary War.
• Richard C. Kearney: American politician.
• Hugh Kearney: British military leader and recipient of the Victoria Cross.
• Ryan Kearney: American professional football player.
• Luke Kearney: British actor and comedian.
• Ann Kearney: American political activist.
• R.K. Kearney: American aeronautical engineer.
• Bob Kearney: American soccer player and coach.
• Mike Kearney: American animator and voice actor.

Other surnames

KearnKearneyKearns