UK surname
A Scottish and Irish surname derived from the given name Cináed or Cionaodh, meaning "born of fire."
In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Mckenney surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 55, ranked #34,627, down from #18,597 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckenney is 126 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.5%.
1881 census count
111
Ranked #18,597
Modern count
55
2016, ranked #34,627
Peak year
1861
126 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mckenney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mckenney surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 112 | #15,913 |
| 1861 | historical | 126 | #17,569 |
| 1881 | historical | 111 | #18,597 |
| 1891 | historical | 116 | #21,766 |
| 1901 | historical | 104 | #22,310 |
| 1911 | historical | 60 | #26,808 |
| 1997 | modern | 51 | #32,545 |
| 1998 | modern | 57 | #32,226 |
| 1999 | modern | 56 | #32,461 |
| 2000 | modern | 56 | #32,514 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 49 | #33,377 |
| 2003 | modern | 55 | #32,895 |
| 2004 | modern | 55 | #33,154 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 63 | #32,943 |
| 2007 | modern | 67 | #32,871 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 54 | #34,608 |
| 2013 | modern | 56 | #34,581 |
| 2014 | modern | 53 | #34,753 |
| 2015 | modern | 52 | #34,775 |
| 2016 | modern | 55 | #34,627 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees, Govan Combination, Cardross and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Cardross | Dunbarton |
| 5 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mckenney surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mckenney, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mckenney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mckenney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mckenney is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mckenney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mckenney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McKenney is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Ionaidh, which means "son of the steward or chamberlain." The name is thought to have originated in the Scottish Highlands in the 13th or 14th century.
The McKenney name is believed to have first appeared in historical records in the late 15th century, with references to individuals bearing the name in various Scottish charters and documents. One of the earliest recorded instances is a mention of a John McKenney in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1498.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the McKenney family was prominent in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire. The name has close ties to the Clan MacDonald, with many McKenneys serving as chamberlains or stewards to the powerful MacDonald chiefs.
In the 18th century, several McKenneys gained recognition for their contributions to Scottish culture and society. Robert McKenney (1720-1788) was a renowned poet and writer who published a collection of Gaelic poems and songs. Another notable figure was Angus McKenney (1755-1832), a skilled woodcarver whose intricate works adorned many churches and buildings in the Highlands.
As the McKenney family dispersed throughout Scotland and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, including McKenny, McKeney, and McKinney. One notable bearer of the name was William McKinney (1806-1867), a Scottish-American politician who served as a U.S. Congressman from Virginia in the mid-19th century.
Other prominent individuals with the McKenney surname include Thomas Loraine McKenney (1785-1859), an American author and advocate for Native American rights, and James Michael McKenney (1862-1939), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada.
The McKenney name has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Highlands, with a legacy that spans centuries and continues to endure across various parts of the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckenney surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 5 Mckenneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 5 | 3.32x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 36.63x |
| Durham | 2 | 5.30x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 13.04x |
| Devon | 1 | 3.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cleator in Cumberland leads with 3 Mckenneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cleator | 3 | 666.67x |
| Everton | 2 | 41.67x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 21.88x |
| Crompton | 1 | 232.56x |
| Hartlepool | 1 | 185.19x |
| Lamplugh | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Plymstock | 1 | 714.29x |
| Wolsingham | 1 | 294.12x |
| Wolverton | 1 | 625.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mckenney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mckenney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mckenney households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Collector | 1 |
| Colliery Laborer | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Formerly Stonemasons Wife | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Ironminer | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Railway Lab | 1 |
| Servt General | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Mckenney surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 55 in 2016. That gives Mckenney a modern rank of #34,627.
A Scottish and Irish surname derived from the given name Cináed or Cionaodh, meaning "born of fire."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mckenney bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.