McElhiney

McElhiney is a surname of Irish or Scottish origin. It is a variant of the surname McElhinney, itself derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Chainnigh" which translates to "son of the follower of St. Kenneth." St. Kenneth, also known as St. Canice, was an Irish abbot and missionary of the 6th century.

The surname McElhiney is found primarily in Ireland and Scotland, with some instances of the name appearing in countries to which Irish and Scottish immigrants migrated, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the name include McElhinney, McIlhinney, Kilkenny, and others. These variations often arose due to differences in spelling conventions and pronunciation over time and across geographical regions.

The etymology of the name suggests a historical association with devotion to St. Kenneth, perhaps indicating that an ancestor of the family was a follower or devotee of the saint, or lived near a church or religious site dedicated to him. Genealogical research is often required to trace specific family lines and the origins of individual bearers of the McElhiney surname.