Hey Brian,
I am originally from NY I currently live in NC. My father is James Garney I his father was Harold Garney. I believe they came from Conn. (I think) My grandmother would have been katherine Mcdermott -Garney I'm not sure that they ever married but alot of records show her last name as Garnier.. I have an aunt in Ny that say her dad (my grandfather) told her that when they came over from Canada the people couldn't understand what they were saying thier last name was (ie Garnier) so they changed it to Garney, Feel free to email me back.
Kimberly Lynn Garney