Show ContentsDevenny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Devenny family

The surname Devenny was first found in Ulster and Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn). From each of these regions comes a distinct Irish sept, although they have come to share the Anglicized name Devenny. The name is rather rare compared to many of the Irish surnames, but of interest today is the Devanney Site, an archaeological site in the southwestern part of the state of Ohio, which appears to have been occupied periodically for thousands of years. How the place was so named is unknown. However, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Early History of the Devenny family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Devenny research. Another 174 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1582, 1602, 1612, 1659 and 1665 are included under the topic Early Devenny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Devenny Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: O'Devany, Devany, Devanney, Devanny, O'Duvany, O'Dovany, O'Deveney, O'Devenny and many more.

Early Notables of the Devenny family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was Cornelius O'Devany, Bishop of Down and Connor from 1582-1612. He was a Catholic martyr, twice arrested and held in Dublin Castle, whose capture, torture, and execution are described in the "Four...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Devenny Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Devenny migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Devenny Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Elinor Devenny, aged 27, who landed in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 [1]
  • Mary Devenny, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Donegal, in 1897
  • John Devenny, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Donegal, in 1898
Devenny Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Annie Devenny, aged 40, who landed in America from Cork, in 1904
  • Frank Devenny, aged 30, who landed in America from Donegal, in 1904
  • Charles Devenny, aged 1, who immigrated to the United States from Letterkenny, Ireland, in 1910
  • John Devenny, aged 30, who landed in America from Laghey, Ireland, in 1911
  • Mary Jane Devenny, aged 25, who landed in America from Londonderry, Ireland, in 1913
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Devenny 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:

Devenny Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Hugh Devenny, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Devenny (post 1700) +

  • David DeVenny, American Democratic Party politician, County Democratic Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 12th District, 1891 [2]
  • Mrs. Dorothy Devenny B.E.M., British recipient of Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for services to Foster Care in Glasgow [3]


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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