Carny: Last Name Origin and Family Crest

Many Carny families will find their roots under Carney, the form most records use. The family name meaning is “Grandson of Cearnach (victorious)”, the same as for Carney.

How the spelling arose

Carny drops the “e” of Carney, a simplification that clerks often made. Regional accents shaped spellings long before dictionaries fixed them. Other spellings include O'Carney.

Heraldry and the Carny name

Looking for a Carny coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

For the full story, order the Carny surname pack.