Surname Clooney - Meaning and Origin
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Clooney: What does the surname Clooney mean?
The last name Clooney is of Irish origin. It is derived from the surname Ó Cluanaigh, which comes from an old Irish Gaelic word meaning “bellicose” or “warrior.” It is believed that the name Clooney originated in the rocky countryside of County Mayo, Ireland. Through the centuries, the surname Clooney has spread around the world, with bearers of the name settling in many different countries, including the United States.
In the United States, the name Clooney has become well known through the fame of George Clooney, an actor and filmmaker. Through roles in films such as Ocean’s Eleven and Gravity, Clooney cemented his status as a household name. He also gained recognition through his work as a philanthropist, founding the organization Not On Our Watch which is dedicated to raising awareness and protecting human rights around the world.
The Clooney name represents strength, perseverance and self-reliance. It stands for the independent, proud spirit of its ancestral roots and has become an international symbol of courage and tenacity.
Order DNA origin analysisClooney: Where does the name Clooney come from?
The last name Clooney is most commonly associated with the famous actor George Clooney. It is thought to be an Irish-American last name, with its origins lying in County Galway, where many Irish immigrants settled in the 18th century.
Today, the surname is most commonly associated with the United States, although records can be also found in parts of Europe, especially in the countries of Ireland, England, and Canada. In the United States, the Clooney surname is particularly common in states with large Irish populations – in particular, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California. Census records reveal that many Irish-American families of the same name, with similar heritage, stem from a common ancestor.
Although the surname Clooney is not particularly common among the wider population, due to its association with the actor and his family the name has become more popular in recent years. People are becoming more aware of its Irish-American roots and many take pride in sharing a common heritage with the well-known American celebrity.
Variations of the surname Clooney
The surname Clooney has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the surname Clooney include Cluney, Clune, Cluney, Cloon, and Cluny. It is also sometimes spelled Clony, Clanney and Clanny.
Clunie and Clunny are variants that have been used in Scotland, and the Ulster variant of MacGlunney is often used in Ireland.
The root origin of these surnames is Irish, from the Gaelic Mac Clúmhaín. The surname can also be thought to have been derived from the French surname le Cluny or Clunie, which was brought to Ireland during the Norman conquest of Ireland in the 12th century.
The surname Clooney is also derived from a Scottish Clan name, Clanioonie or Clan Fhinney. This is an ancient fair that records the early history of the name as; ‘Claneonie, of Donegal, a sept of the O’Donnells of Tir Conell’.
Additionally, there is also a Chinese from the Atayal language surname, Kuoni that is, phonetically, the same as Clooney.
Overall, Clooney is a surname of Irish origin with many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Cluney, Clune, Cluney, Cloon, Cluny, Clony, Clanney, Clanny, Clunie, Clunny, MacGlunney, Clanioonie, and Kuoni.
Famous people with the name Clooney
- George Clooney: Actor, filmmaker, and activist
- Amal Clooney: Human rights lawyer, professor, and author 3.Nick Clooney: Journalist, starred in several movies on TV
- Rosemary Clooney: Singer and actress
- Miguel Ferrer: Actor and son of Rosemary Clooney
- Alexander Clooney: Son of George and Amal 7.Gabriel Ferrer: Son of Rosemary Clooney and Jose Ferrer
- Carlos de la Torre: Grandson of Rosemary and Jose Ferrer
- Isla Tasher: Granddaughter of Rosemary and Jose Ferrer
- Cisco Adler: Musician, son of Nick Clooney
- Santo Ferrer: Grandson of Rosemary and Jose Ferrer
- Augustadonis Ferrer: Son of Santo Ferrer
- Maria Ferrer: Granddaughter of Rosemary and Jose Ferrer
- Maximo Clooney: Grandson of Nick Clooney and his wife Nina
- Adelaide Clooney: Granddaughter of Nick and Nina Clooney