Who can see your post?
Your post will show up in News Feed, on your profile and in search results.5,712 Global KENNY Family Members
Days | Hours | Minutes | Seconds |

KENNY
Family Room
Next Event:
Sunday 11th June
2pm (New York), 7pm (Ire)
Live
Days | Hours | Minutes | Seconds |

KENNY
Family Room
Next Event:
Sunday 11th June
2pm (New York), 7pm (Ire)
Live
Our in-person family gatherings
Our TEDx talk about family gatherings
KENNY Family History
Ó Cionnaoith- also Ó Cionaodha, according to P. Woulfe in 'Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall' (1923), anglicised Kenny, Kinney & c., earlier O Kenaith, O Kenny. Woulfe gives the root 'fire-sprung', though this is conjectural.Ó Coinne- anglicised Conney, Quinney, Kenny and Quinn, descendant of Coinne, an Ulster name.
Ó Ciannaigh/Ó Caoinnigh- usually angl. Keen(e)y, Kean(e)y, a Leitrim name partially absorbed by Kenny, according to E. MacLysaght ('Irish Families' series, 1982,85).
Mac Cionnaoith/Mac Cionaodha- usually angl.MacKinn(e)y, MacKenn)y, MacKenna- similar root to no. 1, according to Woulfe. A sept of Monaghan, but also in Roscommon, and thus some transference with no.1
Mac Giolla Choinigh- angl. MacElkenny, MacIlkenny, MacIlhenny etc. also as Kenny and Heaney. According to Woulfe the root is 'servant of St Canice', from whom the town of Kilkenny takes its name. The name was found in the 16th century in Roscommon, Leitrim, Donegal and Down. The same possibility of absorption, transference occurs with No 1.
Most familes of the name would be of Cos Roscommon and Galway. The Ui Maine sept were powerful in the above areas, and were of the same stock as the O Maddens.
A further complication is that an English family of the name were planters in counties Wexford, Galway and Roscommon, from the time of Elizabeth 1st. These Kennys became very influential. The arms illustrated here are those of the English Kennys: i.e. 'per pale or & azure, a fleur-de-lys between three crescents counterchanged'. They are, in fact, the arms of Kenn(e)y (anciently Kenne) of Somerset who arrived in Ireland in the person of Sir Nicholas Kenny, Escheator to Elizabeth 1st, whose progeny settled, coincidentally, in the Uí Maine heartland of the O Kennys! These very arms were registered at Ulster's Office by this English official in 1571. They appear as Kenne/Kenney of Somerset in Burke's 'General Armory' (1883).
There are, incidentally, many Irish names whose anglicised forms are identical to rarer British names that were occasionally borne by settlers or officials in 17th century Ireland. (v. Appendix).
Listed as a 'Principal Irish Name' in Sir William Petty's '1659 Census' there are:
In Co Roscommon 11 families of McKeny and Kenny , Roscommon Barony, and Keny/Kenny with 6 families in Athlone Barony.
In Co Offaly Petty has 9 families of Kyne listed in the Barony of Coolistowne, 7 of Kenny in Garriecastle.
In Co Louth in 1659 there are 4 families of Keny in Drogheda.
In Co Donegal Petty has 6 families of O Kenny in the Barony of Boylagh and Banagh, and 6 of O Kenny in Raphoe.
In Co Kilkenny, 5 families of Kenny appear as a Principal Irish Name in Fassagh Deinin Barony.
There are none listed in Co Leitrim proper; and, unfortunately, records for Galway are missing.
Griffith's 'Valuation' of property, 1847-60, shows most Kennys in Cos Galway (235) Roscommon (207) Wexford (134) Kilkenny (130) and Offaly (108).
In the Registrar General R.E. Matheson's 'Special Report...' (1894), based on the births distribution figures of 1890, most Kenny births occurred in Cos Galway, Roscommon and Dublin.
R.E.Matheson's 'Varieties & Synonymes of Surnames...in Ireland' (1901) lists the following synonyms of Kenny: Kean(e)y in Co Leitrim, Kilkenny in Banbridge, Co Down, McKinny in Newry, Co Down, and Kinney and McKenny generally. In other words some Kennys in Co Down could really be Mac Giolla Choinigh or Mac Cionnaoith, whilst some Kennys of Leitrim stock could be Ó Ciannaigh/Ó Caoinnigh; see these names above. The same holds for some midland Kennys being Mac Cionnaoith; and persons named Kinney bearing their name as an anglicisation of Ó Cionnaoith. That sounds a bit of a conundrum, but it could prove of value to family researchers.
Three notable Kennys:
Peter James Kenny S.J. (1780-1849) doubtless of the O Kenny sept, a Catholic theologian.
Rev, Arthur Kenny (1776-1855) anti-Catholic preacher, probably with English antecedents.
Enda Kenny (b. 1945) Castlebar, Co Mayo. Fine Gael politician, present Taoiseach of Ireland. He is currently the longest serving member of the Dáil, being T.D. for Mayo since 1975, in which incumbency he followed his father, Henry Kenny.
Appendix.
Also q. v. v. Boland, Boyle, Brady, Breen, Buckley, Canny, Car(e)y, Conway, Craven, Crowley, Cullen, Curry, Delan(e)y, Farren, Fearon, Foley, Gavin, Geary, Gorman, Hanl(e)y, Healy, Hurl(e)y, Hynes, Kelly, Kenny, Larkin, Loftus, Long, Luc(e)y, Lyons, Mullen, Rea, Reaney, Ring, Sexton, Trac(e)y, Tunney et. al.
Select Audience
-
Public
Anyone on or off Wales101 -
Friends
Your friends on Wales101 -
Specific
Only show to some friends -
Only me
Only you can see your post
Tag People
SUGGESTIONS
-
Kane William
-
John Micky
-
John william
-
John Smith
-
John
Create Life Event
Share and remember important moments from your life.

Andrea Eaton-Whitley

Kevin Kenny
Good Evening,, my Kenny ancestors originally came from co Donegal , they migrated to co`s Roscommon and Galway under the Cromwellian resettlement scheme of To` Hell or Connaught`in the 16th century `` - there were 12 offspring in my father`s family 9 of whom left for America in the early 1900`s , mainly to Chicago , where they spread out from there to other parts , maybe even Canada .

Kenny
John Francis Kenney the third aka JFK, Munchkin, Little Kennel. September 3 1959

William Kenny
GGF John Kenny (1869) from Tonroe or Feenagh (near Ballinammen, northern Roscommon) and his father John (38) from Driney Townlands (Lough Glinn) w/ his father Thadeaus (17) near Driney as well. Any information / connections appreciated. DNA testing pending (atDNA & Y-DNA)...

Kenny
Just to mention a previous entry on this page depicting poetry - didn't think this site was to be used for advertising personal works and websites for commercial gain .

Kenny
Famous Fenian who fled to the US:
Donal Ruadh Kenny born 1870 Tang, Co Westmeath / Longford
Poem about Donal:
DONAL KENNY, by JOHN KEEGAN CASEY
First Line: Come, piper, play the 'shaskan reel'
Last Line: For donal kenny's heart was broken.
Alternate Author Name(s): Leo
Subject(s): Love - Loss Of
"Come, piper, play the 'Shaskan Reel,'
Or else the 'Lasses on the Heather,'
And, Mary, lay aside your wheel
Until we dance once more together.
At fair and pattern oft before
Of reels and jigs we've tripped full many;
But ne'er again this loved old floor,
Will feel the foot of Donal Kenny."
Softly she rose and took his hand,
And softly glided through the measure,
While, clustering round, the village band
Looked half in sorrow, half in pleasure.
Warm blessings flowed from every lip
As ceased the dancers' airy motion:
O Blessed Virgin! guide the ship
Which bears bold Donal o'er the ocean!
"Now God be with you all," he sighed,
Adown his face the bright tears flowing--
"God guard you well, avick," they cried,
"Upon the strange path you are going."
So full his breast he scarce could speak,
With burning grasp the stretched hands taking,
He pressed a kiss on every cheek,
And sobbed as if his heart was breaking.
"Boys, don't forget me when I'm gone,
For sake of all the days passed over--
The days you spent on heath and bawn,
With Donal Ruadh, the rattlin' rover.
Mary, agra, your soft brown eye
Has willed my fate," he whispered lowly;
"Another holds thy heart: good-bye!
Heaven grant you both its blessings holy!"
A kiss upon her brow of snow,
A rush across the moonlit meadow,
Whose broom-clad hazels, trembling slow,
The mossy boreen wrapped in shadow;
Away o'er Tully's bounding rill,
And far beyond the Inny river;
One cheer on Carrick's rocky hill,
And Donal Kenny's gone for ever."
The breezes whistled through the sails,
O'er Galway Bay the ship was heaving,
And smothered groans and bursting wails
Told all the grief and pain of leaving.
One form among that exiled band
Of parting sorrow gave no token,
Still was his breath, and cold his hand;
For Donal Kenny's heart was broken.

Rachel K
Hello! My grandfather was a nephew of Donal Ruadh Kenny and we have no records of him since his birth and a minor petty crime in Ballymulvey, Co Longford. If you have information about what happened to him in the US we would be most grateful. I can give info on his broader family! All the best, Rachel

Rachel
Hello, my grandfather was a nephew of this Daniel "Donal Ruadh" from Clogher, Noughaval, Co Westmeath. I would love to know what happened to Donal when he reached the US? We have no records. Just the poem.

Kenny
Donal Ruadh Kenny born 1870 Tang, Co Westmeath / Longford
Fenian Poem:
https://www.poetryexplorer.net/poem.php?id=10047374

Rachel K
I believe he was born in 1844.

Michael Kenny
I am the 7 génération of Kenny born in Québec Canada

David M Bruner
My Kenny forbearers are said to have came to the US, about 1865, from Newcastle, Co. Limerick. Question, would it be unreasonable to expect that Catholic families might have migrated to southern Ireland Counties to avoid religious persecution? DNA suggests that my Irish origins is likely Co. Donegal, specifically Southern Donegal.

Kevin Kenny
our Kenny clann were from SW. Donegal also, they finished up in co Galway.

Kevin Kenny
Is it not the case that when they spread out from co Antrim they were known as ``Kineys`` or Kiny`s and as they moved through the different counties t words the west the spellings of their names changed

Kevin Kenny
Handed down to myself was that the kenny name was indeed English , The people themselves were of irish origin , the Kenny name was given to distinguish them from other clans,, Any information greatly appreciated, thank you,,,

Caroline Kenny
john joe kenny dingle kerry ire

Kenny
Update: Leitrim Genealogy Centre confirmed that Ó Cionnaoith were predominant in Connacht when compared to Mac Cionnaoith.

Kenny
Is it correct that the McKenny's of Roscommon were descended from the Kenny clan probably much more so than McKenna clan of Monaghan? According to P. Woulfe, McKenna "family" was a client clan of O'Connor in Roscommon, which hardly sounds like that line would be responsible for any major proliferation.

Kenny
Is it probable that most McKenny's in Roscommon descend from the Kenny clan rather than McKenna clan of Monaghan? Patrick Woulfe stated that a "family" of McKenna's were clients/followers of O'Connor's, which doesn't sound like they would proliferate in big numbers.

jstokes
Looking for family of Marguerite Kenny born 1820 Ireland died 1865 Quebec Canada-wife of William White
Areas of Origin for KENNY
Invite more KENNY family members!
Write an email address and click 'Invite' to share this page with more members of the KENNY tribe.
Log in or Register to invite others
Family Coat of Arms Generator

Why not see what your family crest could look like based on your own family characteristics?
Create CrestJoin the Irish Learning Rooms
SHOP
Show off the KENNY Family Crest…
Wear your crest with pride...plenty of products to choose from
Helen's family were th?e Kennys of Roscommon, but immigrated to North America in the mid-late 1800s. My grandmother's family was from Connecticutt and Massachusetts. I was hoping to find more information about the Kennys for help in looking up the journey of my family's history.
Also, I'm learning Irish. As I know there are many dialects/accents, and ?as I suppose I must choose one or the other to focus on, the accent of my ancestors seems most appropriate.?