5,449 Global SWINNEY Family Members

SWINNEY Family History

This is an anglicization of an Olde Scots Gaelic name MacSuibhne meaning 'son of Suibhne' - a compound of the Gaelic elements 'mac' meaning 'son' and the personal name Suibhne translating as 'pleasant' or 'well-going'. One Suibhne was Lord of Knapdale (Scotland at the beginning of the 13th century). His descendants came to Donegal as gollowglasses (hired soldiers) in the 14th century and formed three septs in Ireland. MacSweeny Fanad, MacSweeny Banagh and MacSweeny na dTuath. The latter meaning 'of the districts' (in Donegal). A branch of the former migrated to Munster c. 1500 and established themselves in counties Cork and Kerry...