Kearny Surname

The Origins of the Kearny Surname

The surname Kearny is of Irish origin and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Cearnaigh, which means "descendant of Cearnach." The name Cearnach is believed to be a personal name derived from the word cearnach, which means 'victorious' in Gaelic. The Kearny surname is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in County Meath and County Louth.

Irish Origins

The Ó Cearnaigh family were a sept of the powerful Maguires of Fermanagh in medieval Ireland. They were typically found in County Fermanagh, where they held lands and played a prominent role in local politics. Over time, some members of the family migrated to other parts of Ireland, including County Meath and County Louth, where the Kearny surname became more prevalent. The Kearny family crest features a black boar's head on a silver shield, symbolizing bravery and courage.

Spread to Other Countries

While the Kearny surname is most commonly associated with Ireland, it has also spread to other countries around the world. According to data, the United States has the highest incidence of the Kearny surname, with 318 individuals bearing the name. This is likely due to Irish immigration to the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many Irish immigrants adopted anglicized versions of their surnames upon arriving in the United States, leading to the prevalence of names like Kearny.

Australia and England also have a significant number of individuals with the Kearny surname, with 7 incidences reported in each country. Canada, Wales, China, Germany, and Ireland each have a smaller number of individuals with the Kearny surname. The distribution of the Kearny surname around the world reflects the global diaspora of the Irish people and their descendants.

Famous Kearny Individuals

There have been several notable individuals with the Kearny surname throughout history. One of the most famous is General Philip Kearny, a distinguished Union Army officer during the American Civil War. General Kearny was known for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield, and he was ultimately killed in action at the Battle of Chantilly in 1862. Kearny, New Jersey, is named in his honor.

Another prominent individual with the Kearny surname is Stephen Kearny, a United States Army officer who played a key role in the Mexican-American War and the settlement of the American West. Kearny Street in San Francisco is named after him. Both General Philip Kearny and Stephen Kearny are remembered for their contributions to American history and their fearless leadership in times of conflict.

Modern Day Kearny Families

Today, there are Kearny families spread across the United States, Ireland, Australia, and other countries. Many Kearny individuals take pride in their Irish heritage and the history of the Kearny surname. Family reunions, genealogy research, and the sharing of family stories are common activities among Kearny families, allowing them to celebrate their shared ancestry and connections to the past.

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the Kearny surname continues to adapt and evolve, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and global movements of people. The Kearny family name remains a symbol of Irish identity and heritage, connecting individuals across continents and generations.

The surname Kearny in the globe

Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it can be done to locate African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. The same happens in the case of Kearny, which as you can corroborate, it can be said it is a surname that can be found in all the countries of the globe. In the same way you can find nations in which undoubtedly the thickness of individuals using the surname Kearny is greater than in other countries.

The map of this Kearny surname

View Kearny surname map

The chance of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Kearny on the planet, helps us plenty. By putting ourselves regarding the map, for a tangible country, we could begin to see the tangible number of people using the surname Kearny, to obtain in this manner the particular information of all Kearny that one may presently find in that country. All this also assists us to understand not merely in which the surname Kearny comes from, but also in what manner the individuals who are initially the main family members that bears the surname Kearny have moved and moved. In the same manner, you can see by which places they will have settled and grown up, which explains why if Kearny is our surname, it appears interesting to which other nations associated with the globe it's possible any particular one of our ancestors once moved to.

Nations with additional Kearny worldwide

  1. United States United States (318)
  2. Australia Australia (7)
  3. England England (7)
  4. Canada Canada (3)
  5. Wales Wales (2)
  6. China China (1)
  7. Germany Germany (1)
  8. Ireland Ireland (1)