Mcnerney
A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Airchinnigh," meaning "son of the erenagh."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,776 Americans carry the last name Mcnerney. That puts it at #12,833 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.81 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 123,471 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcnerney 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
2.8K
1 in 123,471
Census rank
#12,833
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,400 bearers of the surname Mcnerney in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.81 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12833rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnerney, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcnerney
The surname McNerney is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic Mac an Airchinnigh, meaning "son of the erenagh" or "son of the hereditary landlord." The name traces its roots back to the 12th century in County Sligo, Ireland.
The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The manuscript mentions a Gillacrist Mac an Airchinnigh, who was the erenagh (church landlord) of Cluain Cairpri in County Sligo in the year 1171.
As the name evolved over time, it took on various spellings, such as McNerny, McNernie, and McNerny. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the anglicization of Irish names during the English conquest of Ireland.
One notable figure in the history of the McNerney surname was Dermot McNerney (c. 1510-1585), an Irish nobleman who served as the Lord of Coolavin in County Sligo. He was a prominent figure during the Elizabethan conquest of Ireland and was known for his resistance against English rule.
Another historical figure was John McNerney (1789-1857), an Irish-born journalist and political activist who emigrated to the United States. He founded the first Catholic newspaper in Philadelphia, The Catholic Herald, and was a vocal advocate for Irish immigrants' rights.
In the 19th century, during the Great Famine in Ireland, many McNerneys were among the millions who fled to America and other parts of the world in search of better opportunities. One such individual was Patrick McNerney (1817-1899), who settled in New York City and became a successful businessman and philanthropist.
The name has also been associated with several geographical locations in Ireland, such as McNerney's Bog in County Sligo and McNerney's Lough in County Monaghan, reflecting the historical presence of the family in these areas.
Other notable individuals with the surname McNerney include James McNerney (born 1949), an American business executive who served as the CEO of Boeing from 2005 to 2015, and Kelly McNerney (born 1988), an Australian professional soccer player who played for the Australian national team.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcnerney
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnerney, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcnerney 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 Mcnerney surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Black or African American0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcnerney 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,893 | #12,833 | -7.9% |
| Count | 2,410 | 2,400 | -0.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.89 | 0.81 | -9.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcnerney bearers went from 2,410 to 2,400 (-0.4% change). The surname moved down 940 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,893 to #12,833.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcnerney
FAQ
Mcnerney surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcnerney?
The surname Mcnerney holds position #12,833 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,776 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.81 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcnerney surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnerney, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). 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.