McKenna (name)

McKenna (also MacKenna, Mackenna, and Makenna) is the anglicized form of the Gaelic Irish surname "Mac Cionaoith", also spelt Mac Cionaodha or Mac Cionnaith, meaning "son of Cionnaith" or of the Scottish surname, from Galloway, "MacCionaodha".[1]

The historical lineage of the McKennas lies in Truagh, County Monaghan, Ulster, Ireland, where they were "The Lords Of Truagh" and the McKenna coat of arms can be seen on many of the graves from members of the family.

In North Kerry, McKenna is considered to come from Mac Ginea. The Cionnath, Cionaoith, Cionaddha forms are considered there to be sources of names like Kenny, Kenney, and Kennedy.

A similar Irish surname Ó Cionaodha, also spelt as Ó Cionnaith.

The name is also sometimes used as a given name. This is a list of notable people with this name.

Surname

Given name

Fictional characters

  • Elise McKenna, portrayed by Jane Seymore in Somewhere in Time
  • Jonathon McKenna, from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street
  • Rachel McKenna, from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street
  • Ginger McKenna, portrayed by Sharon Stone in the 1995 film Casino
  • Quinn McKenna, portrayed by Boyd Holbrook in the 2018 film "The Predator"

See also

References

  1. Black, George Fraser; Library, New York Public (1946). "The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History - George Fraser Black - Google Books". Retrieved 2016-04-26.
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