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Hi list,
Thought the attached might be of interest.
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Irish Families, Their names, arms and origins
by Edward MacLysaght
O'Kearney:
The name Kearney is evenly distributed throughout the four provinces of
Ireland. The alternate spelling, Carney, however is almost confined to
Connacht particularly Co. Mayo. The latter are O'Cearnaigh in Irish
(presumable from Cearnach, victorious) and are a branch of the Ui Fiachrach
whose territory was around Moynulla Balla in Co. Mayo. The Delcassian
O'Kearneys who migrated to Cashel in early time are also O'Cearnaigh.
The most important Kearney sept in history are of different origin. In Irish
their name is O'Catharnaigh. They were Chiefs of Teffia, Co. Meath and even
when their influence diminished, they retained a considerable territory in
Kilcourse in Co. Offaly. One of them became Baron Kilcoursey. The Meath
Kearneys are usually known as Fox. The head of the family being styled The
Fox. This arose from the fact that the cogomen Sionnach (fox) was applied to
their eleventh century ancestor. (For further particulars see p 151 Supr sub
Fox). Quite a number of alternative forms are used in English besides Carney,
including Keherney, O'Caherney and in Co. Cavan, McCarney. There is a
townland Called Ballymaccarney in Co. Meath.
Five Kearneys of Irish origin appear in the dictionary of American Biography
in the spheres of politics, literature and war. Seven notable Ecclesiastics
called Kearney lived and worked in Ireland of whom Rev Barnabas Kearney SJ
(1567-1640), David Kearney, Archbishop of Cashel from (1603-1625) and the
protestant Rev. John Kearney (1542-1600), author of a Catechism in the Irish
Language may be specifically mentioned. In France the Abbe Charles Kearney C
1745-1820, was a prominent anti-Revolutionary at the time of the French
Revolution. The family of John Kearney of Fethard, who was secretary to
James II was very prominent in French Court and Legal circles during the
18th Century.
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