The original Gaelic form of the name McConeghy is Óconnachtaigh. This name can be considered a place name as it indicates that its original bearer inhabited Connaught. The prefix O, meaning '"grandson of" indicates descent from the original bearer.
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Early Origins of the McConeghy family
The surname McConeghy was first found in County Donegal with the MacSweenys. That name is derived from Suibhne O'Neill, who was a chieftain in Argyll, Scotland. His descendants migrated to Ireland as gallowglasses (mercenaries) prior to 1267. The three great septs of this name finally established themselves in Tirconnell in 14th century; they were known as MacSweeney Fanad, MacSweeney Banagh, and MacSweeney na dTuath, who were commonly referred to as 'MacSweeney of the Battleaxes.'
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Early History of the McConeghy family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McConeghy research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the year 1893 is included under the topic Early McConeghy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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McConeghy Spelling Variations
Numerous spelling variations of the surname McConeghy exist. A partial explanation for these variants is that ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. Different spellings that were found include Conaty, O'Conaty, Connaghty, Connoty, MacConaghy, MacConkey and many more.
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Early Notables of the McConeghy family
More information is included under the topic Early McConeghy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the McConeghy family
Many destitute Irish families in the 18th and 19th centuries decided to leave their homeland, which had in many ways been scarred by English colonial rule. One of the most frequent destinations for these families was North America where it was possible for an Irish family to own their own parcel of land. Many of the early settlers did find land awaiting them in British North America, or even later in America, but for the majority of immigrants that arrived as a result of the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s the ownership of land was often a long way off. These Irish people were initially put to work on such industrial projects as the building of bridges, canals, and railroads, or they worked at manufacturing positions within factories. Whenever they arrived, the Irish made enormous contributions to the infant nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the earliest immigrants to bearer the name of McConeghy were found through extensive research of immigration and passenger lists: John McConaghty, age 26, who arrived in Quebec in 1834; Alexander McConaghy, who settled in Allegheny County, Pa. in 1844; Jas MacConnaghy, who arrived in New York City in 1811.
Ireland
Scotland
