McKenna is a Gaelic name of the chieftains of Truagh in the old kingdom of Oriel.
Where does the McKenna name come from?
McKenna is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Cionaoith, “son of Cionaodh” — a personal name understood to mean something like “born of fire.” The family belongs to the native Gaelic stock of the north midlands and south Ulster.
The McKennas of Truagh
The McKennas were lords of Truagh, a territory in the north of County Monaghan, in the old kingdom of Oriel, where they held sway for many centuries. As one of the historic names of the region, McKenna is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Did you know?
- McKenna comes from the Gaelic Mac Cionaoith.
- Cionaodh is understood to mean “born of fire.”
- The McKennas were lords of Truagh in north Monaghan.
- Truagh lay in the old kingdom of Oriel.
- The name survives today in Ireland and across the diaspora.
Related Irish family names
You may also like McArdle, McGuinness, and Barry.
Carry the McKenna name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the McKenna collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is McKenna an Irish surname?
Yes — McKenna is a Gaelic Irish surname, from Mac Cionaoith, the lords of Truagh in north Monaghan.
What does McKenna mean?
It means “son of Cionaodh,” a name understood as “born of fire.”
Is there a McKenna family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our McKenna products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
