Kinneavy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Kinneavy

What does the name Kinneavy mean?

The original Gaelic form of Kinneavy was Mac Cionaoith.

Early Origins of the Kinneavy family

The surname Kinneavy was first found in County Monaghan (Irish: Muineachán) located in the Northern part of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Ulster, at Truagh where they were known as the Lords of Truagh.

Early History of the Kinneavy family

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

Kinneavy Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Kinneavy were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. MacKenna, MacKennagh, MacKenney, MacKenny, MacKinna, MacKinnie and many more.

Early Notables of the Kinneavy family

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

Migration of the Kinneavy family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Kinneavy family relocated to North American shores quite early: 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.