Surname Leany - Meaning and Origin

Leany: What does the surname Leany mean?

The last name Leany is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic phrase "úa Leain", meaning "descendant of Leann" or "descendant of the devoted one". The name Leann (sometimes spelt Lein or Leine) translates to "lover, beloved". It also has associations with the Celtic goddess of love, Leannan, who symbolises devotion and loyalty.

The name is believed to be derived from the Old Welsh personal name Lun, which has the same meaning. This could be a reference to Saint Luned who lived in the 6th century and was known for her piety.

The Leany surname is still relatively uncommon in Ireland today, with the majority of Leany households located in County Westmeath and County Galway.

The family crest for Leany can be broken down into several different colours, such as black, white, red and green. The black part of the crest represents courage and strength, while the white symbolises purity and integrity. The red part indicates desire and good luck, and the green stands for loyalty and joy.

Overall, the surname Leany is associated with love, devotion, loyalty, piety and courage. It is a great honour to have this surname, and those who bear it should be proud.

Leany: Where does the name Leany come from?

The surname Leany is a variant of the Irish surname Leney. It is less common today than it was a century ago, however it can still be found mainly in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In Ireland, Leany is most commonly found in counties Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary. In the UK, Leany can be found in the city of London, as well as in counties Mayo, Monaghan, and Donegal. Records show that in the early 1900s, Leany was one of the most frequent surnames in those counties.

Today, the surname appears much less frequently, with the most common variant being Leney. The reasons for the decline in the use of Leany are unknown, but it is suggested that linguistic and cultural changes over the years have played a role in its decline.

When looking for Leany as a surname today, it is more likely to appear when researching family trees and old records than you would find it in daily life. Searching through archives and genealogy websites is the most reliable way of finding any information on the Leany surname today.

Variations of the surname Leany

The surname Leany is of Welsh origin and is usually found in an anglicized form as Laney. Other variations of the surname could include Lannie, Leaeny, Leany, Leanney, Leney, Lenny, and Lianny. They all derive from the Welsh personal name Leuan, which was derived from 'Lleuans' meaning 'honored even'.

The patronymic form of Leany could be Llewelyn or Llewely. The middle name is less common and is usually spelled with a double L as in Llewelyn. Llewellyn is also an acceptable spelling.

Variants of the name Leany have been found throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Scotland, the name is spelled as Lenny, Lennye or Leanney. In England, the name is often spelled as Lenny or Lenney. In Ireland, it can be found as Leanay or Leaney.

More common variations of the surname are Laney, Lianny, Leaeny, Leany, Lenny and Leney. Surnames derived from these variations include Leeany, Lenehan, O'Leany, Lenny, Lenney, Lenihan, Lienery, Lienay, Leinay, Laney, Leanney, Leanay, Lannie, Lenny and Leaeny.

Some of these variants are more easily recognizable than others, and some of them are used almost exclusively in certain regions. It is important to research the variant surnames of Leany to determine which one is the most appropriate for genealogical purposes.

Famous people with the name Leany

• Sharna Leany: Australian actor, known for her roles in the feature films 1200 Departed and the upcoming sci-fi thriller MIMIC.
• Taneleer Tivan (The Collector): Marvel comics character who first appeared in Fantastic Four #62, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
• Taylor Leany: American actor, best known for her roles on Popular and One Tree Hill.
• James Leany: Canadian actor, known for his role in the 2014 romantic comedy film The Best Man Holiday.
• Paul Leany: English author and women's rights activist. He was the author of the 19th century bestseller, A Woman's Right to Education.
• Peter Leany: South African educational reformer, educator, linguist and journalist. He was an early proponent of Bantu education.
• Alexandra Leany: American YouTuber, vlogger and blogger, images from her channel featuring outfits, makeup looks and lifestyle advice.
• George Leany: Former professional American basketball player, drafted in 1948 by the Philadelphia Warriors of the National Basketball League.
• Jeannette Leany: Chilean Olympic rhythmic gymnast, represented her country in 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
• Christian Leany: Norwegian alt-folk singer/songwriter, the youngest daughter of punk-rock singer John Leany.

Other surnames

LeanLeanderLeane