NameCensus.

UK surname

Feeney

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fionnaoí, meaning "descendant of Fionnagáin," derived from a diminutive of Fionn, meaning "fair-headed."

In the 1881 census there were 1,019 people recorded with the Feeney surname, ranking it #3,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,572, ranked #1,897, up from #3,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fintry, Drumoyne and Shieldhall and Viewpark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Feeney is 3,681 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 250.5%.

1881 census count

1,019

Ranked #3,843

Modern count

3,572

2016, ranked #1,897

Peak year

2010

3,681 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Feeney had 1,019 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,572 in 2016, ranked #1,897.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,353 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Feeney surname distribution map

The map shows where the Feeney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Feeney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Feeney over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 279 #8,067
1861 historical 252 #9,804
1881 historical 1,019 #3,843
1891 historical 1,016 #4,094
1901 historical 1,353 #3,710
1911 historical 1,095 #4,234
1997 modern 3,221 #2,000
1998 modern 3,377 #1,982
1999 modern 3,444 #1,969
2000 modern 3,444 #1,963
2001 modern 3,346 #1,973
2002 modern 3,429 #1,974
2003 modern 3,373 #1,963
2004 modern 3,377 #1,962
2005 modern 3,406 #1,907
2006 modern 3,360 #1,937
2007 modern 3,359 #1,961
2008 modern 3,428 #1,934
2009 modern 3,550 #1,924
2010 modern 3,681 #1,891
2011 modern 3,607 #1,907
2012 modern 3,522 #1,913
2013 modern 3,569 #1,921
2014 modern 3,596 #1,916
2015 modern 3,583 #1,900
2016 modern 3,572 #1,897

Geography

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Where Feeneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fintry, Drumoyne and Shieldhall, Viewpark, Birkenshaw and Laurieston and Tradeston. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fintry Dundee City
2 Drumoyne and Shieldhall Glasgow City
3 Viewpark North Lanarkshire
4 Birkenshaw North Lanarkshire
5 Laurieston and Tradeston Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Feeney

These lists show first names that appear often with the Feeney surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Feeney

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Feeney, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Feeney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Feeney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Feeney is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Feeney is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Feeney falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Feeney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Feeney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Feeney

The surname Feeney is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Ó Fidhnaídhe, meaning "descendant of Fidhnaídh." Fidhnaídh was a personal name derived from the Gaelic elements "fidh" meaning "wood" and "naídhe" meaning "warrior" or "follower." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a profession or status associated with forestry or woodlands.

The Feeney surname first appeared in records in County Sligo, Ireland, where it was a prominent family name during the Middle Ages. The name is also found in other parts of Ireland, particularly in counties Leitrim, Roscommon, and Mayo. Early spellings of the name included O'Feeney, O'Feenay, and O'Feeny.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Feeney name is in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a notable figure named Donogh O'Feeney, who was the Chief of Calry in County Sligo in the 14th century.

Another notable Feeney was Turlough O'Feeney, who was appointed the Bishop of Clonfert in County Galway in 1525. He played a significant role in the Irish Reformation and is mentioned in several historical records from that period.

In the 17th century, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, a Feeney family from County Sligo was granted lands in the Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, for their loyalty to the English crown. This event is recorded in the Book of Survey and Distribution, a record of land grants during the Cromwellian Settlement.

Another notable figure with the Feeney surname was Patrick Feeney (1822-1887), an Irish-American priest and author who founded several Catholic schools and churches in the United States. He was born in County Mayo, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century.

In more recent history, Michael Feeney (1906-1983) was an Irish playwright and novelist from County Sligo. His works, including the play "In the Summer Twilight" and the novel "The Cock and Anchor," explored themes of rural Irish life and culture.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the Feeney surname throughout history, highlighting its Irish origins and the prominence of the name in various regions of Ireland over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Feeney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Feeney surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 348 Feeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 348 2.96x
Yorkshire 133 1.35x
Warwickshire 83 3.32x
Durham 72 2.44x
Lanarkshire 72 2.24x
Cheshire 49 2.24x
Middlesex 41 0.41x
Staffordshire 27 0.81x
Surrey 23 0.48x
Shropshire 18 2.10x
Northumberland 17 1.15x
Midlothian 14 1.05x
Derbyshire 13 0.84x
Cumberland 12 1.40x
Hampshire 12 0.59x
Kent 11 0.33x
Worcestershire 11 0.85x
Angus 10 1.09x
Berwickshire 10 8.32x
Renfrewshire 7 0.91x
East Lothian 6 4.57x
Lincolnshire 6 0.38x
Essex 5 0.26x
Gloucestershire 5 0.26x
Ayrshire 3 0.40x
Devon 2 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.15x
Channel Islands 1 0.34x
Dorset 1 0.15x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.32x
Royal Navy 1 0.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 60 Feeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.20x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 60 7.20x
Liverpool 58 8.11x
Manchester 30 5.67x
Salford 30 8.66x
Runcorn 25 49.51x
Great Bolton 24 15.39x
Barony 23 2.83x
Holy Trinity 23 9.73x
Chorlton On Medlock 22 11.76x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 22 17.21x
Aston 19 2.76x
West Derby 19 5.52x
Glasgow 17 2.98x
Hulme 16 6.51x
Wardleworth 16 23.78x
Leeds 15 2.70x
Blackburn 14 4.47x
Govan 14 1.76x
Wolverhampton 12 4.66x
Blantyre 11 32.93x
Middlesbrough 11 8.59x
Oldbury 11 17.26x
Winlaton 11 38.84x
Bishopwearmouth 10 3.95x
Castleton 10 8.51x
Liff Benvie 10 7.17x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 10 105.60x
Dukinfield 9 8.89x
Seaton Delaval 9 69.44x
Habergham Eaves 8 7.43x
Portsea 8 2.01x
Prescot 8 37.58x
Preston 8 2.54x
Shifnal 8 34.38x
Sutton 8 20.26x
Westoe 8 4.78x
York St Denis In 8 185.61x
Dunse 7 61.46x
Mile End New Town London 7 35.71x
Normanby In 7 26.64x
Preston Quarter 7 29.25x
Tadcaster West 7 89.97x
Widnes 7 8.24x
York St Margaret 7 114.75x
Battersea 6 1.64x
Bermondsey 6 2.03x
Bromley London 6 2.75x
Great Grimsby 6 5.96x
Lambeth 6 0.69x
Newington 6 22.16x
Over Darwen 6 6.38x
Pendleton In Salford 6 4.28x
Spotland 6 4.58x
St George In East London 6 6.43x
Tranent 6 33.80x
Bowling 5 5.14x
Caldewgate 5 10.68x
Cheltenham 5 3.33x
Chester St John Baptist 5 12.70x
Chesterfield 5 8.59x
Edinburgh Old 5 61.96x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 0.94x
Eston 5 23.35x
Gillingham 5 7.16x
Kensington London 5 0.91x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 8.68x
Old Monkland 5 3.93x
Port Glasgow 5 13.45x
Rainhill 5 66.31x
Stranton 5 5.03x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 5 14.75x
Tynemouth 5 6.33x
Walsall Foreign 5 2.89x
Altrincham 4 10.45x
Burslem 4 4.17x
Duddingston 4 14.99x
Heaton Norris 4 5.97x
Kimberworth 4 7.33x
New Village 4 135.59x
Shipley 4 7.84x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Feeney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 103
Ann 30
Margaret 30
Bridget 26
Catherine 22
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 19
Annie 16
Ellen 16
Kate 16
Jane 12
Agnes 7
Julia 7
Eliza 6
Emma 5
Hannah 5
Maria 4
Rose 4
Alice 3
Anne 3
Martha 3
Cathrine 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Jenny 2
Katharine 2
Louisa 2
Maggie 2
Margt. 2
Susan 2
Ameme 1
Betsey 1
Bridgett 1
Bright. 1
Charles 1
Christine 1
Constance 1
Dorothy 1
Elenor 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Alice 1
Honor 1
Honoria 1
Janey 1
Jemima 1
Jessee 1
Judith 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Feeney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 90
Thomas 58
James 47
Patrick 43
Michael 31
William 27
Edward 19
Martin 13
Peter 11
Joseph 9
George 7
Luke 7
Bernard 6
Charles 6
Owen 5
Richard 5
Thos. 5
Andrew 4
Harry 4
Lawrence 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
Christopher 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Hubert 2
Philip 2
Roger 2
Augustine 1
Bartholomew 1
Chas. 1
Colman 1
Daniel 1
Dominic 1
Edwan 1
H. 1
Horace 1
Howard 1
Hugh 1
I. 1
Isaac 1
Lawrance 1
Lucas 1
Malachi 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Michal 1
Micheal 1

FAQ

Feeney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Feeney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,019 people were recorded with the Feeney surname. That placed it at #3,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Feeney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,572 in 2016. That gives Feeney a modern rank of #1,897.

What does the Feeney surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fionnaoí, meaning "descendant of Fionnagáin," derived from a diminutive of Fionn, meaning "fair-headed."

What does the Feeney map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Feeney bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.