415 Global Nerney Family Members

Nerney Family History

This ancient clan surname is recorded in the spellings of MacInerney, McInerney, McErney, and the variants Norheny, Nerney, Nertney, etc. The name originates in the province of Connaught and derives from the ancient Gaelic pre 10th century 'Mac Erenagh' meaning 'The son of the lay lord '. In pre-medieval times the 'erenagh' was a hereditary Lord of the church, one who held high secular office and property on behalf of the church, and collected all rents and tithes arising from those properties. Following the Norman Invasion of Ireland in 1170, these hereditary positions were gradually terminated, but even as late as the 17th century the 'Mac Inerney' clan was a considerable power.