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Corney History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Corney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Irish name Corney has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. Generally, the original Gaelic form of the name Corney is said to be Ó Cearnaigh, from the word "cearnach," which means "victorious." 1 However, in some instances, especially the roots of the present day spelling of Kearney, the surname derives from the Gaelic name "Ó Catharnaigh," meaning "warlike."

Early Origins of the Corney family

The surname Corney was first found in County Mayo (Irish: Maigh Eo) located on the West coast of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Connacht, where they held a family seat from ancient times and were a branch of the Ui Fiachrach.

The MacCarney (McCarney) variant is "Mac Cearnaigh and the family was originally seated at Ballymacarney, Co. Meath. According to records from the sixteenth century to the present day it must be regarded as belonging to Ulster: in the Fiants we find a MacCarney among the followers of Rory O'Donnell; in the Hearth Money Rolls of the l660's the name appears frequently in Cos. Monaghan and Armagh; and comparatively recent sources indicate that they are still mainly located in that part of Ulster. It would appear, however, that the prefix Mac has been widely dropped, the name being now registered as Carney or Kearney. Probably the most remarkable person of this name was Susan MacKarney who died in Dublin in 1751 reputedly 120 years of age. She was a beggarwoman who had £250 secreted in the mattress of her death bed." 2

Early History of the Corney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Corney research. Another 230 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1199, 1529, 1539, 1543 and 1721 are included under the topic Early Corney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Corney Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Corney family name include Carney, Carnie, McCarney, MacCarney, O'Carney, Kearney and many more.

Early Notables of the Corney family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was Carney of Cashel and John Kearney of Fethard, prominent in court and legal circles in England.In Scotland, "Patrick Makcarny was one of...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Corney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Corney migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Corney to North America:

Corney Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Corney, who landed in Virginia in 1634 3

Corney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Rebecca Corney, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 3

Corney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard Corney, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 3

Corney migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Corney Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Corney, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1841

Corney migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Corney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Bridget Corney, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 4
Charles Corney, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Time and Truth" 5
Martin Corney, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Time and Truth" 5

Corney migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Corney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Corney, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 6
Mrs. Martha Corney, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 6
Mrs. Ellen Corney, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Euphemus" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 12th February 1857 7
Miss Joan Corney, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Euphemus" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 12th February 1857 7
Mr. Samuel Corney, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Euphemus" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 12th February 1857 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Corney (post 1700) +

Bolton Corney (1784-1870), English critic and antiquary, born at Greenwich on 28 April 1784, and baptised in the parish church of St. Alphage 8
Corney Swanepoel (b. 1986), South African-born, New Zealand bronze medalist butterfly swimmer at the 2008 Short Course Worlds

Historic Events for the Corney family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Clarence Henry Corney, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 9

The Corney Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sustine et abstine
Motto Translation: Sustain and abstain.

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HOOGHLY 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Hooghly.htm
South Australian Register Thursday 9th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Time and Truth 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/timeandtruth1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html