By Sandra McCleaster
Have you ever wondered if you live in Kearny or Kearney? It’s hardly a burning controversy, but it’s a question that has persisted over the years, in large part because, as you’ve probably noticed, the name of our hometown is often spelled incorrectly.
In all probability, this discrepancy had its local genesis in 1874, when Kearny was separated from Harrison. The official documents of that separation actually used the spelling K-E-A-R-N-E-Y, but when the Act of 1898 incorporated Kearny as a Town, the new documents spelled it with only one E.
We all know that our Town is named for the Civil War General Phil Kearny. And General Phil certainly knew how to spell his own name. Yes, there is a Kearney, Nebraska, a town that actually derived its name from the old Fort Phil Kearny. The Fort was actually named for the very gentleman who gave his name to our town! How that Nebraska spelling change could have happened is anybody’s guess.
Two earliest notable members of the Kearny family were Michael & Philip Kearny, brother immigrants of the early 1700s. They settled in Phila, PA and Perth Amboy, NJ, respectively. Documents in their own handwriting (1742, 43) always spelled their name without that second “E”.
History goes on to tell us that our namesake, General Phil himself, was very particular about the spelling of his name and often angrily threw away mail addressed to him with the incorrect spelling.
The question of Kearny vs Kearney was finally put to rest in 1926 when a real authority on the correct spelling provided first-hand knowledge of the issue. A grandson of General Phil, Thomas Kearny, wrote the following:
“My grandfather’s name was ever and always spelled without a second E. Kearny is the correct spelling no matter who says otherwise.”
His testimony seems to clarify once and for all the matter of the second “E’ in Kearny.
But no one has ever been able to explain how the extra “E” came to be in the first place. What’s sad for the Kearny history buffs, is that there seems to be no official explanation. But there is speculation.
One theory holds that Kearny represents the Irish ancestry spelling, while Kearney represents the Old English spelling. Both surnames were popular through the years. We know with certainty that our Kearny family was of Irish ancestry. People may have simply mixed up the spelling because Kearney was the more common surname.
Another plausible explanation suggests that the military may have started the whole thing with its own accidental misspelling. It’s easy to understand how this could have happened considering the long and storied history of the Kearny military men.
So, my Kearny friends, there it is, and now you know.
Sandra McCleaster is the president of the Kearny Museum, which is located on the 2nd floor of the main Library. It is closed during the summer months but available for private visits or tours.