MacKeny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Early Origins of the MacKeny family

Early History of the MacKeny family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacKeny research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1544 is included under the topic Early MacKeny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKeny Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname MacKeny that are preserved in archival documents are MacKenna, MacKennagh, MacKenney, MacKenny, MacKinna, MacKinnie and many more.

Early Notables of the MacKeny family

More information is included under the topic Early MacKeny Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacKeny family

A great mass of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century, seeking relief from various forms of social, religious, and economic discrimination. This Irish exodus was primarily to North America. If the migrants survived the long ocean journey, many unfortunately would find more discrimination in the colonies of British North America and the fledgling United States of America. These newly arrived Irish were, however, wanted as a cheap source of labor for the many large agricultural and industrial projects that were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the western world. Early immigration and passenger lists indicate many people bearing the MacKeny name: Andrew, Arthur, Charles, Edward, James, John, Michael, Owen, Patrick, Peter and Thomas McKenna all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; Alice, Daniel, James, John, Thomas and William McKenney settled in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.