Feeney
Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fionnaoí, meaning "descendant of Fionnagáin," derived from a diminutive of Fionn, meaning "fair-headed."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 11,002 Americans carry the last name Feeney. That puts it at #3,740 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 31,154 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Feeney surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
11K
1 in 31,154
Census rank
#3,740
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
9.5K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 9,473 bearers of the surname Feeney in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3740th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Feeney, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
Origin
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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Feeney
Among Census respondents with the surname Feeney, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Feeney bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Feeney surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.9%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- Black or African American0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Feeney surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,740 | #3,740 | 0.0% |
| Count | 9,473 | 9,473 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 3.21 | 3.21 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Feeney bearers went from 9,473 to 9,473 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #3,740 to #3,740.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Feeney
FAQ
Feeney surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Feeney?
The surname Feeney holds position #3,740 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 11,002 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Feeney surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Feeney, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (1.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.