Find out how popular the last name McKenney is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named McKenney.

McKenney, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the McKenney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McKenney in America

McKenney is the 4852nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McKenney surname appeared 7,265 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname McKenney.

We can also compare 2010 data for McKenney to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name McKenney

The 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McKenney

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname McKenney.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for McKenney was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of McKenney has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name McKenney was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of McKenney, please contact us.

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