Surname MacGinnis - Meaning and Origin
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MacGinnis: What does the surname MacGinnis mean?
The last name MacGinnis is of Scottish origin and it is a variant transcription of MacInnes. The name is derived from the Gaelic elements "Mac" meaning "son of", and "Aonghais/Aonghas" referring to the personal name Angus. Angus comes from the Celtic god Aonghus, which symbolizes love and youth. Therefore, the surname MacGinnis could be interpreted to mean "son of Angus". Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has undergone many changes, leading to various versions such as MacInnis, MacInnes, MacAngus, and more. The MacGinnis families were found mostly in the Western Isles of Scotland and were part of the larger and prominent Clan Donald. Like many Scottish families, members of the MacGinnis clan migrated to various parts of the world, spreading the surname across different countries.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGinnis: Where does the name MacGinnis come from?
The surname MacGinnis is of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Aonghusa, which translates to "Son of Angus". The name Angus originates from the Celtic god Aonghus, who was the god of love and youth in Irish mythology.
The MacGinnis surname has various spellings, including but not limited to McGinnis, Magennis, Guinness, and MacGuinness. Due to historical movements and migration, people with the MacGinnis surname can be found in various parts of the world.
However, it is most common today in countries with a large Irish diaspora, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. It remains rather widespread in Northern Ireland, specifically in the region of Down where the family held a family seat from ancient times. It's also prevalent in parts of the Republic of Ireland. These regions reflect both the historical roots and migration patterns associated with the surname.
Variations of the surname MacGinnis
The surname MacGinnis is of Scottish and Irish origin. It has many spelling variants which emerged as form of original Gaelic forms of Mag Aonghusa or Mag Fhionghusa. These two original Gaelic forms mean "son of Angus" and "son of Finghusa," respectively. Common variations of the surname include:
From the "son of Angus" meaning, you can find McGuinness, MacGuiness, Magennis, MacGennis, MacInnes, and McGinnas, among others. And from the "son of Finghusa" meaning, variations like Maginnes, Maginnis, McGinniss, and MacGinniss are seen.
Surname spellings have also been influenced by phonetic spelling. So, it is not surprising to find that there are also variations such as McInnis, McInnes, McAnnis, MacInnis, MacInnes, MacAnnis, McGuiness, McGinness, MacGuinness, MacGinnis, McGinnis, and McAngus.
It's also worth noting that in some cases, prefixes may be dropped, resulting in spellings like Ginnis and Innis.
Also, subtle variations in the spellings have developed over time due to regional accents and the influence of other languages.
In terms of surname origin, it appears that all variations tie back to the same paternal roots of "son of Angus" and "son of Finghusa".
Famous people with the name MacGinnis
- Colleen MacGinnis: American voice actress and singer.
- Stan MacGinnis: Canadian film, television, and stage actor.
- David MacGinnis: American actor, writer, producer, and director.
- Trey MacGinnis: American guitarist for the indie rock band Dirty Fences.
- McKeon MacGinnis: Scottish actor who appeared in films such as The Devil's Own and North Sea Hijack.
- Frankie MacGinnis: Former professional American football player who played linebacker for the Washington Federals.
- Sean MacGinnis: Australian actor and writer who was seen in The Code and Top of the Lake.
- Finley MacGinnis: Scottish actor who appeared in films such as The Bunker and Reflections in a Golden Eye.
- David MacGinnis Brown: American motion picture actor who had a recurring role in the television show The X-Files.
- Jonathan MacGinnis: English actor known for his roles in films such as East is East and Ultraviolet.