This most interesting and unusual name, which is very rare, is a County Derry synonym of "Timpany", itself the anglicized version of the Gaelic "Mac an Tiompanaigh", which translates, "the son of (Mac) the Tympanist", from "tiompanach", a player of the musical instrument, known as the timpane. Early Anglicizations of this name were "Mac Tympane" and "Mac Itempanye", the names of sixteenth Century families, dwelling with the O'Preys and the savages in Ards, Co. Down. The shortened form "Tumpane" is now found in North Tipperary. Tempany and Tenpenny are two modern forms of Timpany, itself a County Down name. The name was probably introduced into England by Irish immigrants searching for work, especially during the Great Famine, 1845-1847. One James Mc Atamoney married Jane McAlister on June 24th 1845, at Templecorran, Antrim, while one Elizabeth McTamney married William McAteer on April 9th 1863 at Bellaghy, Ballyscullion parish, Londonderry. Patrick McAtamney was baptised at Maghera, Londonderry on April 5th 1867. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Joshua and Elizabeth Mc Tommony, which was dated November 1751, christening witness at Donaghmore, Tyrone, Ireland, during the reign of King George 11, "The Last Warrior King", 1727 - 1760. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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