Show ContentsMcMenamy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The McMenamy surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Meanman," a patronymic surname, created from the personal (first) name Meanma, which means "spirited."

Early Origins of the McMenamy family

The surname McMenamy was first found in Tirconnell (Irish: Tír Chonaill) present day Donegal, located in Northwestn Ireland in the province of Ulster, where they held a family seat as Chiefs in that territory. Irish history, after the Norman Conquest of England, was strongly influenced by the invasion of Strongbow in 1172. Many Irish clanns, sept names were intermixed and family groupings became almost indistinguishable. This family name was found later in Mayo and in Donegal at Letterkenny and Ballybofey. Still later they branched to Tyrone at Omagh Union.

Early History of the McMenamy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McMenamy research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McMenamy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMenamy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: McNemanin, McManamon, McMenamy, McManaway, McManamin, McManamy, McMenamen, McMenemen, McMenimin and many more.

Early Notables of the McMenamy family

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


McMenamy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McMenamy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James McMenamy, aged 62, who arrived in Missouri in 1848 1

McMenamy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McMenamy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Agnes McMenamy, (McMenamy, Nancy), Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2

McMenamy 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:

McMenamy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John McMenamy, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Earl Granville" in 1880
  • Margaret McMenamy, aged 43, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Earl Granville" in 1880
  • Margaret McMenamy, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Earl Granville" in 1880
  • Mary McMenamy, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Earl Granville" in 1880

Contemporary Notables of the name McMenamy (post 1700) +

  • Lily Camille McMenamy (b. 1994), American-born, English model and actress, daughter of Kristen McMenamy
  • Kristen McMenamy (b. 1964), American model
  • Robbie McMenamy, Irish gold medalist at the Men's Semi-Contact at WAKO World Championships 2007 Coimbra -74 kg
  • Jamie McMenamy, Canadian musician from Nova Scotia, member of the Battlefield Band


  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo


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