The name Kenney is an English variant of the name Kennedy, which has its origins in the Gaelic language. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Cendubháin, meaning "descendant of Cendubhán." Cendubhán is a compound word composed of the elements "cenn" meaning "head" or "chief" and "dubhán" meaning "little dark one."

The name Kenney likely emerged as an anglicized spelling of the Irish surname during the Middle Ages when it was common for Irish names to be adapted to English spellings and pronunciations. The earliest recorded instances of the name Kenney can be found in historical records from Ireland dating back to the 16th century.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Kenney was Sir John Kenney (1780-1849), an English dramatist and writer known for his plays and comedies. Another prominent figure was James Kenney (1781-1849), an English actor and playwright who wrote several successful plays in the early 19th century.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kenney was Michael Kenney (1768-1848), an Irish-born soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent landowner and politician in Pennsylvania.

Another notable individual with the name Kenney was James Fitzmaurice Kenney (1858-1927), an Irish-born American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In more recent times, William Kenney (1909-1992) was an American author and journalist who wrote several books on crime and organized crime, including "The Brinks Job" and "Gonzalo: The Life of a Smuggler."

Overall, the name Kenney has a rich history rooted in Irish and Gaelic culture, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the Middle Ages. While it has evolved from its Gaelic origins, the name has maintained a presence throughout history, with notable individuals bearing this name in various fields.