Surname Tamney - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Tamney: What does the surname Tamney mean?
The last name Tamney is of Irish origin and is derived from the old Irish name O'Tamhnaigh. The word ‘tamhnaigh’ ultimately comes from the old Irish word ‘tam’ meaning ‘to cut’. This indicates that the family identified themselves as a professional class, likely pre-dating the Viking invasions of Ireland. In the more modern day, those with the surname Tamney may have come from the areas of Counties Mayo or Galway in the province of Connacht, which was the original homeland of the O'Tamhnaigh clan.
Patronymic surnames, of which Tamney is one, were used to indicate the father's line of descent. This would mean that the Tamney name would pass, more than likely unchanged, from father to son and from mother to daughter. This makes it likely that the Tamney name was adopted as a surname in the mid-17th century.
The coat of arms associated with this surname is a silver shield with a red cross, with a red rose and a black talbot (a type of hunting dog) illustrated above the shield. The shield itself depicts the religious aspect of the surname, the rose symbolizing honor and glory, and the talbot illustrating service and protection.
In summary, the last name Tamney indicates a family heritage of Irish origin, likely descended from the O'Tamhnaigh clan in pre-Viking era. It was adopted as a patronymic surname in the mid 17th century, and is still widely used today. The family crest for the name is based on a religious context and indicates honor, glory, service and protection.
Order DNA origin analysisTamney: Where does the name Tamney come from?
The last name Tamney is relatively uncommon today, appearing in few world directories. It does occur in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and it is quite common in some counties of Northern Ireland. The Tamney surname is also known in North America, where it is particularly prominent in the United States. The name Tamney originates from the Irish form of Mac Tamhnach, which translates to "son of the Layman". The name is generally found in the Donegal and Derry areas of Ireland. The Tamney family in the US is largely comprised of Irish immigrants who arrived in the mid-1800s during the Great Famine. They settled mostly in New England and the Midwest. It is a rare family name but can still be found in parts of the country today. Its members are likely to belong to one large branch with many descendants.
Variations of the surname Tamney
Tamney is an Irish surname believed to have derived from the Gaelic name "Tadhg an Einigh," meaning "Tadhg of the Brave." This surname has several variants, spellings, and alternate surnames of the same origin. These include Tamney, Tawney, Tawny, Taheny, Toomey, Toomee, Toomie, Tomney, Tomny, Thomney, and Thomny.
Tamney is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name "Tadhg an Einigh," so most variants are more Anglicized forms of the name. Tawney, Tawny, Taheny, Toomey, Toomee, and Toomie are some of the most common variants, though they are not limited to Ireland or Irish ancestry.
Thomney and Thomny are variants that are more commonly seen in England. This is likely because the English language is similar to Gaelic and the "Th" sounds resemble the "T" of Tadhg, which may lead to the change in spelling.
Despite the different spellings, all of the variants of Tamney derive from the same Gaelic Tadhg an Einigh. As such, all of these variations of Tamney are surnames of the same origin, making it easier to trace ancestry back to a common point.
Famous people with the name Tamney
- Katie Leung: British actress of Harry Potter fame, whose full name is Katie Liu Leung Tamney.
- Donal Logue: American actor and producer, whose full name is Donal Francis Logue Tamney.
- Thomas Mesereau: American celebrity trial lawyer, whose full name is Thomas Alan Mesereau Tamney.
- Lee Tamney: Australian cricketer who played for the Victorian Bushrangers.
- Brian Tamney: Australian singer-songwriter and composer.
- Zachary Tamney: Former British Dragon Boat champion.
- Daina Tamney: American figure skater and a two-time US national champion.
- Caitlynn Tamney: British singer and songwriter who has enjoyed some success on YouTube.
- James Tamney: Scottish playwright who is best known for the plays 'The Wind of Heaven' and 'The Street of Dreams'.
- Michael J. Tamney: Australian engineer and inventor who has over 30 patents, including several for renewable energy systems.