This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Kearney family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kearney Family History

Kearney Surname Meaning

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Catharnaigh ‘descendant of Catharnach’ a personal name meaning ‘warlike’. Alternatively it may be from Ó Cearnaigh or Mac Cearnaigh (from cearnach ‘victorious’).

It may also originate from Ó Ceithearnaigh ‘descendant of Ceithearnach’ a personal name meaning ‘foot soldier’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kearney family from?

You can see how Kearney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kearney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kearney families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 361 Kearney families living in Lancashire. This was about 39% of all the recorded Kearney's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Kearney families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kearney surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Kearney ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kearney. 14% of Kearney men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Kearney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kearney were General Labourer Heavy Worker and Cook.

View Census Data for Kearney | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    14%
  • Dock Labourer
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    8%
  • General Labourer Heavy Worker
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Cook
    2%

What Kearney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 145,000 census records available for the last name Kearney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kearney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kearney

Passenger Lists

There are 49,000 immigration records available for the last name Kearney. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kearney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 29,000 military records available for the last name Kearney. For the veterans among your Kearney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kearney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kearney family history

Discover More

What is the average Kearney lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Kearney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Kearney in 1944 was 27, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kearney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kearney ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kearney family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial