Surname Mac Ginn - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Ginn: What does the surname Mac Ginn mean?
The last name Mac Ginn is of Irish origin. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Giohn or descendant of Giohn, which is a pet form of the name John. In ancient Ireland, people were given nicknames which were in the form of pet-names or descriptive names. Giohn is likely an old Gaelic nickname for John, which meant “God is gracious” or “God’s gift”. Over time, the phrase became anglicized in parts of Ireland and the Scots who settled there, and became Mac Ginn.
The name Mac Ginn, then, denotes a descendant of someone who was likely from the old clan of John. It is most commonly found in the provinces of Connacht and Ulster, where it is said that the most common variations of the surname are McGin, McGeeney and McGinn.
The English translation of the surname Mac Ginn is “son of gracious”. Thus, this particular name denotes a person who is descended from someone who was kind-hearted or brave. Despite its Irish roots, Mac Ginn is also found among people of Scottish heritage, as it was one of the many surnames brought to Scotland by Irish immigrants.
In conclusion, the last name Mac Ginn has ancient roots in Irish culture. It likely denotes descent from someone who was regarded as kindly, gracious or brave, likely from the old clan of John. Over time, the surname has been anglicized and is now seen in both Irish and Scottish societies, as it was brought to Scotland by Irish immigrants.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Ginn: Where does the name Mac Ginn come from?
The surname MacGinn is predominantly found in Ireland, where it originated. The MacGinn surname primarily originated in County Donegal, where it is still quite common today. It also has a presence in other parts of Ireland including Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kerry.
The MacGinn surname is also occasionally found in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Islands regions, although its occurrence is far less common than in Ireland. It is thought to have originally been derived from the pre-10th century Irish McLaughlin. The clan were renowned warriors who sought to protect their lands and the people they ruled.
In the United States, the MacGinn surname is also found, although it is quite rare. It is thought to have arrived with Irish immigrants in the 19th century. In the 1990 United States Census, 230 people with the MacGinn surname resided in the US, most of whom lived in New York, Pennsylvania or California.
MacGinn is also found in other parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This indicates that the surname has spread to these countries as a result of the Irish diaspora. While it is perhaps not as common as it once was in Ireland, the MacGinn surname can still be found with some frequency across many different parts of the world today.
Variations of the surname Mac Ginn
Mac Ginn is an Irish surname of Scottish Highland origins. The variants, spellings and surnames for the same origin are MacGinnis, McGinnes, McGinley, McGinnis and McGinnity.
Mac Ginn is a patronymic surname that signifies that the bearer is the son or descendant of Ginn, an ancient Gaelic first name. Mac is a Gaelic prefix meaning “son of” and Ginn was a common first name in the region in the Middle Ages.
MacGinnis is a variant spelling of MacGinn, which is pronounced the same but spelled with more of a Scottish influence.
McGinnes is a variant of Mac Ginn and is the anglicized version of the name, with a slightly different spelling.
McGinley is a variation of the Mac Ginn which likely originated in County Donegal, Ireland, and is still common there today. McGinley is a Gaelic surname, believed to be derived from the word mac gille eoin which translates to “son of the servant of John”.
McGinnis is the Irish version of the Mac Ginn surname, and has been popularized in Northern Ireland. The Gaelic spelling of the name is mac giolla inis and it translates to “son of the servant of Inis.”
McGinnity is a derivative of Mac Ginn and is related to the Irish surname McGinley. The Gaelic spelling of the name is mac giolla naoidhe, which means “son of the servant of Naoidhe.”
Famous people with the name Mac Ginn
- Tim MacGinn: American actor
- Sean MacGinn: American television editor
- Patrick MacGinn: Canadian politician
- Mary Jo MacGinn: American singer
- John MacGinn: British classical scholar
- Mark MacGinn: American composer
- Patrick MacGinn: Canadian minister
- David MacGinn: British actor
- Chris MacGinn: Australian cricketer
- William MacGinn: Scottish laird and poet