Show ContentsQueeney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Queeney Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Queeney

What does the name Queeney mean?

The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Queeney family. Their name comes from Suibhne, an old Gaelic forename which probably means good-going or well-going. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Shuibhne.

Early Origins of the Queeney family

The surname Queeney was first found in on the Isles of Skye and Lewis (Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas), where they were originally a branch of the MacDonalds of Clanranald. But although the MacQueens held lands of Garafad on the Isle of Skye for several centuries it is likely that the first MacQueen was the Lord of Knapdale in Argyllshire who held Castle Sween.

Early History of the Queeney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Queeney research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1411 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Queeney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Queeney Spelling Variations

The medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. Queeney has been recorded as MacQueen, MacQueon, MacSween, MacSwene, MacSweyne, MacSwan, MacCunn and many more.

Early Notables of the Queeney family

MacQueen of Pall à Chrocain, a legendary Highland deer stalker popularly believed to have slain the last wolf Tarnaway Forest in the province of Morayshire in 1743. Apparently, he received a message from his chief, the Laird of Clan Mackintosh, that a black wolf had killed two children. He arrived late for the meeting, received a tirade from his chief only to reveal from under his garment the head of the wolf. He described the event as follows: "As I came through the slochk (ravine) by...
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Queeney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Queeney family to Ireland

Some of the Queeney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Queeney migration to the United States +

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Queeney, or a variant listed above:

Queeney Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Donald H. Queeney, aged 19, arrived in New York City, New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Advance" from Cristobal 1
  • Edgar Queeney, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Lapland" from Antwerp, Belgium 1
  • Maragret Queeney, aged 22, originally from Ballinasloe, Ireland, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Kaiserin Augusta Victoria" from Queenstown, Ireland 1
  • Delia Queeney, aged 24, originally from Ballygar, Ireland, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Carmania" from Queenstown, Ireland 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Queeney (post 1700) +

  • Jamie Queeney, Irish footballer for Na Fianna CLG (Meath)
  • Brian Queeney, Irish footballer for Na Fianna CLG (Meath)
  • Daniel Queeney, Irish footballer for Na Fianna CLG (Meath)

The Queeney Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Constant and faithful
  1. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result

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