Surname Twomey - Meaning and Origin
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Twomey: What does the surname Twomey mean?
The last name Twomey is an Irish name originating in County Cork. It is an anglicized version of the name Ó Tuama, which can be translated as “descendant of Tuama”. Tuama was a common first name amongst those of the Corcu Duibne, a sept of the Irish province of Munster located south of Cork harbor and west of the river Lee.
In Irish history, Tuama was the leader of a group of locals attempting to fight off a Viking invasion of Cork in 846. Though ultimately unsuccessful, Tuama was highly respected in the region and his people honored him by taking on his name.
The “-ey” suffix is typical of Irish surnames, as it is usually derived from the Gaelic words “Ó” or “Mac,” meaning “son of.” Twomey is thus rendered as “son of Tuama.”
The steadily growing population of Twomeys led to many different variants of the name’s spelling, including Twomney, Twomony, and Twomley. Some Twomeys have also settled in the United States, where the name may also be found.
The Twomeys of Cork have a close-knit community and a proud, ancient lineage. In modern times, the Twomeys have been highly successful entrepreneurs and business people, as well as academics, priests, and politicians. They are a testament to their ancestor Tuama and his courage in the face of a daunting enemy.
Order DNA origin analysisTwomey: Where does the name Twomey come from?
The last name Twomey is most common in Ireland today. It is a very old and distinctively Irish name derived from the MacTómaigh clan, which had its origins in County Cork. The name is most strongly associated with County Cork and the south-west of Ireland, although a similar spelling is also found in the Scottish Highlands, due to ancient migrations from Ireland.
Twomey is fairly common in modern Irish society, accounting for 0.4% of the population, or about 28,000 individuals. The South-West of Ireland remains a stronghold for the name, where it is one of the top 25 most popular surnames in Cork and Kerry. The name Twomey is also fairly represented in most of the larger cities like Limerick, Galway, and Dublin.
The name Twomey can also be found in many countries throughout the world, due to Irish migration during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The United Kingdom is home to some of the highest concentrations of the name, but there are also many Twomeys in Canada, Australia, and the United States.
In summary, the last name Twomey is most common in Ireland today, particularly in County Cork and the South-West. It is also represented in many parts of the world due to Irish emigration over the years.
Variations of the surname Twomey
The surname ‘Twomey’ is an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic surname, ‘O Tuama’, meaning ‘descendant of Tuamha’. This name is derived from the Irish personal name, Tuamha, which is often Anglicised as Tomhas. The variants of this surname could be represented as two distinct surnames: Twomey and Tuama.
The various Anglicised spellings of the surname Twomey include Twomay, Toomey, Twoomey and Twohmey, all of which have similar origins. The Tuama variant of the surname, meanwhile, can be spelt as Tuam, Tuomey, Tuohmey, Twohmey, Tuome and Tuomah, all of which carry a similar meaning.
The related surnames of Tweemy, Toomy, Thawmey, Tomey and Thomey are all spelling variations or variants of the original Twomey/Tuama surname. The MacTuamhan variant of the surname is derived from the Gaelic MacTuamhan, which means ‘son of Tuamhan’, and is another version of the Twomey or Tuama surnames.
These spellings, as well as the surnames Tuomy, Tomany and Tominey, are all derived from the original surname and provide a hint of the many variants that the Twomey and Tuama surnames have taken on over time.
Overall, there are numerous variants and spellings of the original Twomey/Tuama surname, all of which derive from the Irish Gaelic ‘O Tuama’. Despite the range of spellings, all of these variants can be linked at their root and are derived from the same Gaelic surname.
Famous people with the name Twomey
- Megan Twomey: American actress
- Beth Twomey: Irish musician and singer
- Eamonn Twomey: Irish Gaelic footballer
- William Twomey: Irish Judge
- Olive Twomey: Irish political activist
- Adam Twomey: Irish rugby union player
- Sean Twomey: Irish hurler and coach
- Pádraig Twomey: Irish hurler
- Paul Twomey: Australian lawyer and IT executive
- Garrett Twomey: Irish republican and spokesperson
- Braeden Twomey: American entrepreneur and television host
- Lena Twomey: Irish actor
- David Twomey: American composer and arranger
- Rebecca Twomey: Irish actress
- Robin Twomey: Irish radio personality
- Meg Twomey: American writer
- Sharon Twomey: American actress
- Gavin Twomey: Irish journalist
- Gobnait Twomey: Irish singer
- Ciara Twomey: Irish TV personality.