Surname Blatney - Meaning and Origin

Blatney: What does the surname Blatney mean?

The last name Blatney is an Irish-Anglicised surname, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Blaithnaidh" which translates as "Descendant of Blaithneach". This Gaelic surname means "Blithe" or "affectionate", which suggests that it originated from a person who was known for their kind and cheerful nature. Historically, the Blatney family belonged to the Uí Maine dynasty, who were one of the most powerful families in all of Connacht in the 12th century.

Today, many descendants of the Blatneys are spread across the world, especially in various parts of the United Kingdom. The Blatney surname is still fairly common in Ireland and is particularly concentrated in counties Connacht and Galway.

Those who bear the name Blatney are likely to be proud of their Irish ancestry and have a great affinity for the country. Additionally, many may share the traits attributed to the surname itself, as those who are of the Blatney descent typically display kindness, love, and cheerfulness.

Interestingly, the surname Blatney is also sometimes spelled as Blatty or Blattney, and may sometimes be mistaken for the similarly-spelled Blaney. Nevertheless, all of these surnames are ultimately derived from the same Gaelic word.

Blatney: Where does the name Blatney come from?

The last name Blatney is most commonly found today in the United States. In 2020, records show that the name Blatney is the 38,361st most common surname in the United States. Originally an Irish surname, Blatney is derived from the Gaelic ‘O Blaitni’ which means ‘descendant of Blaitni’. The original Blaitni was a member of an ancient Irish family that was located in the Munster region of Ireland during the 11th century.

The surname Blatney is believed to have been brought over to North America by Irish immigrants in the 18th century. During this period, Irish immigrants were fleeing famine and oppression in their home country in search of better prospects in the United States. Today, Blatney is the 60,231st most common surname in Canada and the 38,362nd most common surname in England.

The present-day distribution of Blatney is heavily concentrated in the United States, specifically in the states of Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and California. Within these states, the most populated cities for Blatney are Chicago, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Boston, and Los Angeles.

Variations of the surname Blatney

Blatney is an Irish surname that is derived from the Gaelic term “Blathmhaic”, which means “Plain of Honey”. The various spellings of this surname include Blaney, Bleany, Blaney, Blanney, Blanning, Blandy, Blandea, Blandin, Blanford, Blaney, and Blanay.

In Ireland, this surname is most commonly spelled Bleany or Blaney; however, it is also spelled Blany or Blanney in the USA, and Blanford in Australia and New Zealand. The different spellings of this surname may have arisen due to phonetic spellings in various dialects, or even from local differences in pronunciation.

Variants of the Blatney surname include Blatnay, Blanneye, Blatnay, Blatnea, Blanstney, Blantin, Blantine, Blantney, Blatten, Bletney, Blandea, Blandin, Blannay, Blannoy, Blannin, Blankney, Branney, and Branning.

Overall, the Blatney surname is an interesting surname with many spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. It has been passed down through the generations, meaning it is likely that individuals with this surname have generations of family that share the same name.

Famous people with the name Blatney

• Michael Flatley: Michael Ryan Flatley is an American-born Irish dancer, choreographer, and musician. He is known for his traditional Irish dance show Riverdance.
• Bridget Fonda: Bridget Jane Fonda is an American actress, known for roles in films like Single White Female, Jackie Brown, and Sid and Nancy.
• Gaspar de Blatney: Gaspar de Blatney, also known as Gaspar Blatney, was a Spanish military commander and general during the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire.
• Marty Whelan: Marty Whelan is an Irish television and radio presenter, best known for being the longtime host of the Irish television game show Winning Streaks.
• Patrick Blatney: Patrick Blatney is an American actor, best known for his roles in the films Donner Pass and A Bit of Bad Luck.
• Marina de Blatney: Marina de Blatney is a British actress, best known for her roles in films such as Carry On Columbus and The Rivals.
• Ellen Blatney: Ellen Blatney is an American singer, songwriter, and actress, best known for her work with the band The Wannadies.
• Stephanie Blatney: Stephanie Blatney is an American actress, known for her roles in films such as Mystic Pizza and Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter.
• Michael Blatney: Michael Blatney is an American author, best known for his books Lovers & Liars and Body and Soul.
• Raymond de Blatney: Raymond de Blatney was an Irish artist, best known for his paintings, such as The Last Supper and The Sorrowing Virgin.

Other surnames

BlatnaBlatnerBlatnigBlatnik