Question about my Surname, PLEASE HELP?

Question

I found out that my last name Seney goes back to the 1800's, but it seems they were all from maryland. How do I find out what my last name means? If it's French or Irish?

Answer 1

The earliest US census to show place of birth was 1850, and yes, there are Seneys in Maryland at the time.. all of whom were born there in Maryland.  Some date back into the late 1700s.  However.. the question is where THEIR ancestors came from, which would often be found by working further back in other records. Names are NOT limited to just one origin, in all cases.  I do see some other persons of the name, who do show they were born in France.

You have to connect the person/ ancestor to a place of birth.. not just the name.

Answer 2

From Ancestry.com

Seney Name Meaning and History

Possibly a variant of Seeney.

Seeney Name Meaning and History

English: variant of Senior.

Irish: variant of Sweeney.

Senior Name Meaning and History

English (mainly Yorkshire): nickname for a peasant who gave himself airs and graces, from Anglo-Norman French segneur ‘lord’ (Latin senior ‘elder’).

English and Dutch: distinguishing nickname for the elder of two bearers of the same personal name (for example, a father and son or two brothers), from Latin senior ‘elder’.

Sweeney Name Meaning and History

Irish: reduced form of McSweeney, an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Suibhne ‘son of Suibhne’, a byname meaning ‘pleasant’.

Americanized form of French Choinière (see Choiniere).

McSweeney Name Meaning and History

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Suibhne ‘son of Suibhne’, a byname meaning ‘pleasant’. Compare McQueeney, which is from the lenited form.

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Surname: Seeney

Recorded as Seney, Seeney, Seeny, Signey, Siney, Synai, and others, this is an English surname. It originates from the pre 7th century Olde English personal compound name "Sigenod". This is in two elements, the first being "sige" meaning victory, and the suffix "nod" meaning brave, to give the literal translation of 'victory-brave.' The surname whilst well recorded in the surviving church registers of the city of London from the time of King Henry V111th (1510 - 1547) is also popular in Ireland being first recorded there amongst the gentry in counties Westmeath, Kildare and Offaly from about 1610. Early examples of the surname recordings include Elizabeth Seeny at St Mary Aldermary in the city of London on November 7th 1546, Jacob Synney, christened at Sunbury on Thames on September 7th 1579, Edward Synai who was a witness in London, also in 1579 and Mary Siney who married John West at St. James, Dukes Place, London on June 25th 1693. In Ireland examples of recordings include Anne, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Sanney, who was christened at St. Catherines Dublin, on April 16th 1720, whilst William Sany was christened at the same church on December 9th 1712. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Sygemay. This was dated 1275, in the Pipe Rolls of the manor of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, during the reign of King Edward 1st of England, and known as 'The Hammer of the Scots', 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

© Copyright: Name Orgin Research www.surnamedb.com 1980 - 2007

Answer 3

Possibly a variant of Seeney.

Seeney:

ENGLISH:Varient of Senior

English (mainly Yorkshire): nickname for a peasant who gave himself airs and graces, from Anglo-Norman French segneur ‘lord’ (Latin senior ‘elder’).

English and Dutch: distinguishing nickname for the elder of two bearers of the same personal name (for example, a father and son or two brothers), from Latin senior ‘elder’.

IRISH: Varient of Sweeney

Irish: reduced form of McSweeney, an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Suibhne ‘son of Suibhne’, a byname meaning ‘pleasant’.

Americanized form of French Choinière (see Choiniere).