The surname MacElheeny comes from the Irish Mac Giolla Chainnigh, meaning the son of a servant or devotee of St. Canice, also known as St. Kenny. The place name
Kilkenny, is also derived from the saint; in Irish it is Cill Chainnigh, meaning the church of St. Canice.
Early Origins of the MacElheeny family
The surname MacElheeny was first found in County Derry, where the sept was of the Cenel Eoghain group. The St. Canice branch of whom they were originally followers, came from Dromachose, County Derry. One of the earliest records of the name is of David de
Kilkenny, who was Bishop of Achonry, County
Sligo (1312 to 1344.) Ironically the name is not taken from the town in
Leinster or the county named
Kilkenny. References to the surname were rare throughout history.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
Early History of the MacElheeny family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacElheeny research.
Another 171 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1690 and 1866 are included under the topic Early MacElheeny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
MacElheeny Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Kilkenny, MacKilkenny, MacElhinny, MacElheeny, MacIlhenny and many more.
Early Notables of the MacElheeny family (pre 1700)
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacElheeny Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the MacElheeny family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: a Mic Kilkeny, who settled in the Red River Settlement in Canada in 1812; Edward
Kilkenny, who was listed as a British Alien in New York during the War of 1812.