Surname MacSkimmins - Meaning and Origin
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MacSkimmins: What does the surname MacSkimmins mean?
The last name MacSkimmins is an old Irish surname originating from the Mac Siomáin sept, a group of people who settled in Armagh and Down in the north of Ireland around the 12th century.
The surname was derived from the Gaelic for 'son of Skimmins', with Skimmins being a variant of Siomáin, which is derived from the Latin 'Simonianus', which means 'follower of Simon'. As a result, the direct translation of the surname would be 'son of the follower of Simon'.
MacSkimmins families were found mostly in County Down and remained there for centuries. The most famous MacSkimmin was Fergus MacSkimmins, a Presbyterian minister who gained renown from his dispute with the Church of England in the 1650s and 1660s.
The legacy of MacSkimmins lives on in families who can trace their lineages back to the original MacSkimmins sept, and their influential contributions to the village life of North Armagh are remembered with great esteem. MacSkimmins have also made notable contributions to various fields such as medicine, science, and engineering, and their presence in Ireland still remains strong.
Order DNA origin analysisMacSkimmins: Where does the name MacSkimmins come from?
The last name MacSkimmins is mostly found in Ireland today. It is likely a variant of the Irish surname McGuinnis. It can also be present in other countries, particularly those with a large immigrant population from Ireland.
The MacSkimmins surname is found mainly in the central and western regions of the country, particularly in Cork, Limerick and other rural areas. It is still quite common in some areas due to having a historically high concentration of Irish immigrants. This is especially true of areas in the United States such as New York and Boston, where MacSkimmins can be found in large numbers.
MacSkimmins is not as common as other Irish surnames, but it can still be found in prominent business and political figures from Ireland. For example, Ireland's finance minister in 2020, Paschal Donohoe, is a noted MacSkimmins.
The name is also seen in the United States, where it is scattered in locations throughout the east and midwest. In some states, including New York and Pennsylvania, it is one of the oldest immigrant surnames.
Overall, the last name MacSkimmins is still common in many countries due to the historic diaspora of people with Irish roots. Thanks to the large Irish-American community, the name is still seen in areas such as the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname MacSkimmins
MacSkimmins is a surname of Irish origin. It can also be spelled as MacSkimming, MacSkimin, MacSkimmon, MacScimin, MacSimmon, and Skimming. These variations of the name derived from the Irish MacScimín, which also has variants such as Mac Sgimín, MacSimin, and Mac Simin. The prefix “Mac” is an Irish form of “son.” The root name, Scimín, was derived from the Gaelic “sceamh,” which means skimming or glancing.
Variant spellings of MacSkimmins include MacCimming, MacCimin, MacCimmon, MacCimmonn, MacCimount, MacSimmonds, MacSimmonye, MacSimmons, and MacSimmonz. Variants of Skimming include Skimin, Skimin, Skimming, Skimmin, Skimmon, Skimon, and Skimond.
There are also surnames of the same origin, such as McSimmon, McSimmonds, McScimmin, McSimmonds, Skimin, and Skimmon. These are derived from the original MacScimín surname but have modifications in spelling.
MacSkimmins is a common surname in Ireland and Great Britain. Surnames of similar origin are also found in the United States and Canada and are mainly derived from Irish and Scottish immigrants and settlers in these countries.
Finally, the suffix "-kins" has been used to create a patronymic form of MacSkimmins, which could be used in place of the original form. Examples of this can include MakSkimmins, MakCimmins, MakSimmons, MakSkimming, Makskimmon, and MakCimming.
Famous people with the name MacSkimmins
- Mary MacSkimmins: an Irish singer-songwriter
- John MacSkimmins: a former goalkeeper in Scottish football
- Frank MacSkimmins: a former motorcycle stunt rider and world champion in the 1950s
- Tim MacSkimmins: a former professional footballer in the late 60s and early 70s
- Maud MacSkimmins: a noted Scottish novelist
- Joe MacSkimmins: a professional golfer on the European Tour
- Alfred MacSkimmins: a noted English painter
- Jake MacSkimmins: an American cartoonist and children's book illustrator
- Bob MacSkimmins: an American actor of stage, TV, and films
- Dean MacSkimmins: a British inventor and industrialist