Surname MacQuinney - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacQuinney: What does the surname MacQuinney mean?
The surname MacQuinney is of Irish origin and derives from the Gaelic name O Cuin. It's understood to derive from "Cuinn", which describes a descendant of Conn. Conn was once an extremely popular personal name in Ireland, meaning "chief" or "wisdom". The Mac prefix in Irish surnames such as MacQuinney indicates "son of", hence the surname would translate to "son of Conn's descendant". Irish families would traditionally take on the name of their revered ancestor, leader, or the head of their clan. Over time, these names have faced various changes in spelling due to anglicization, variations in Gaelic dialects, and immigration records. Thus, the name O Cuin has numerous spelling variations including MacQuinney, O'Quinn, Quin, Quinn, Quinne, MacQuinn, and several others. Variations like MacQuinney are significantly less common today. As a surname, MacQuinney and its variants are found all over the world today, but most heavily in Ireland and the United States, due its Irish diaspora.
Order DNA origin analysisMacQuinney: Where does the name MacQuinney come from?
The surname MacQuinney is of Irish origin. It stems from the Gaelic "Mac Coinnigh," meaning "son of Coinneach" or "son of the fair or bright-headed one." This surname was initially a personal name, a popular practice among Celtic tribes who would often adopt their leader's name. Over time, the personal name morphed into a hereditary surname.
The name is not very common today and can be found in small numbers dispersed throughout various parts of the world. However, it's likely more prevalent in countries with significant Irish diasporas, such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, due to historical immigration patterns. In Ireland itself, it is not among the most common surnames but can still be found. As with many Irish surnames, the spelling variations can be numerous, including McQuinney, MacQuinney, MacQuinnie, and others, which can spread its apparent prevalence somewhat more thinly.
Variations of the surname MacQuinney
The surname MacQuinney is of Irish origin and is quite rare, derived from the Gaelic name Mac Cuinne, meaning 'son of Conn'. Variations and alternative spellings of the surname can be affected by translation errors, phonetic spellings, regional dialects and spelling changes over time.
Variations for the surname MacQuinney might include MacQuiney, MacQuinny, MacQuinn, MacQueeny, MacQueeney and MacQuieny. Some individuals or families may have dropped the 'Mac' prefix over time, resulting in surnames like Quinney or Quinn.
It's also possible to have versions without the 'Mac' but with an 'O' prefix instead, which typically means 'grandson of' or 'descendant of' in Irish surnames. These could be O'Quinney or O'Quinn.
It's important to bear in mind though, while some surnames may appear similar, they might have different origins or meanings. For example, the surnames Quinn or Quinney can come from other Gaelic names like O'Cuinn (descendant of Conn) or meaning 'wise', respectively.
Finally, surnames can also be anglicized, which might lead to further variations. For instance, MacCuinne might be translated to MacKinney or McKinney. This is due to both 'Mac' and 'Kin' having similar meanings, denoting 'son of'.
In conclusion, exact variations depend on multiple factors, primarily historical records and family preferences.
Famous people with the name MacQuinney
- Charlie MacQuinney: a former Scottish international footballer
- Alan MacQuinney: an Irish-American actor and film director
- Julia MacQuinney: a Canadian humanitarian
- Herman MacQuinney: a Scottish physicist and engineer
- Herbert MacQuinney: a Canadian businessman and philanthropist
- Gavin MacQuinney: a multi-award-winning British author
- Arthur MacQuinney: a Scottish-born American author and pastor
- Francis MacQuinney: a Canadian-American composer and pianist
- Bruce MacQuinney: a Canadian-American race car driver
- Elizabeth MacQuinney: a Canadian poet and songwriter