Greaney

Greaney is a surname of Irish origin, predominantly found in County Galway and County Mayo in the west of Ireland. The name is an anglicised form of the Gaelic surname "Ó Graithne", meaning "descendant of Graithne", a personal name of uncertain meaning.

The Greaney surname is recorded in historical documents as early as the 14th century in Ireland. The Greaney clan were believed to be a sept of the powerful O'Flaherty clan, who were prominent in the region of Connemara in County Galway.

In the 19th century, due to economic hardships and the Irish diaspora, many Greaney families emigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. As a result, the surname spread beyond its Irish roots to various countries across the globe.

Today, individuals with the surname Greaney can be found in many English-speaking countries, particularly in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name has maintained its connection to its Irish heritage while also adapting to the cultures and societies of its adopted countries.

Notable individuals with the surname Greaney include authors and scholars. The surname continues to be cherished by descendants of the Greaney clan, serving as a link to their ancestral past in Ireland.

There are approximately 541 people named Greaney in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around eight in a million people in Britain are named Greaney.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Ireland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Andrew
  • David
  • Ian
  • James
  • John
  • Martin
  • Michael
  • Patrick
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Stephen

Female

  • Amanda
  • Angela
  • Ann
  • Anne
  • Brigid
  • Elizabeth
  • Frances
  • Jane
  • Mary
  • Nicola
  • Patricia
  • Sarah
  • Winifred

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