Surname Maginness - Meaning and Origin

Maginness: What does the surname Maginness mean?

The last name Maginness is an Irish surname which originates from the Gaelic Mac Aonghais, meaning "son of Angus". It is derived from the first name Aonghus, which is thought to be derived from the earlier Aon, meaning "one, alone, unique".

The Maginness surname is most commonly found in counties Donegal, Derry and Antrim, which are located in the Irish Province of Ulster. It [is] believed that it was common in this area prior to the 11th century when it was first recorded.

The name Maginness has been spelled many different ways over the years including MacAnespie, MacAineis, MacAnguish, MacAungish and more. Each of these variations indicates slightly different backgrounds of origin.

The Maginness family has many successful figures in Irish history, with some of the most notable being James Maginness, an Irish patriot and United Irishmen leader, Jeremiah Maginness, a renowned Irish poet, and James Francis Maginness who found success as an Irish politician.

Ultimately, the last name Maginness can be traced back to origins of Irish history and is an honorable name in the country. It has been associated with successful, brave and visionary figures which have contributed to the independent nation we know today.

Maginness: Where does the name Maginness come from?

The last name Maginness is believed to have originated in the north of Ireland during the High Middle Ages, likely with Gaelic roots. It has since spread to countries all over the world, with the highest concentration of people with the surname still located in Ireland.

Within Ireland, the name is most commonly found in the Ulster counties of Antrim, Londonderry, Armagh, and Down. A large cluster is located in the town of Bangor in County Down, known to locals as the “Maginness Townland”. It is believed that the name was originally derived from the Gaelic Mag Aonghusa, meaning “son of Angus”.

In the United States, people with the surname Maginness settled in both urban centers and rural areas. The largest concentration is found in New York, in particular the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Much of the migration occurred between the mid-1800s to early 1900s, coinciding with the Irish Emmigration.

Canada is home to the second-largest population of Maginness family members. While originally concentrated in Ontario, the name is now commonly found in cities and towns across the country. Briton is also home to a significant number of people with the surname, with the majority located in the shire counties of England such as Cumbria, Durham, and Lancashire.

Today, the surname Maginness is found in many countries across the globe, with the greatest numbers still located in its original home of Ireland.

Variations of the surname Maginness

The Maginness surname is of Irish origin and its variants and spellings include Maginniss, McGuinness, Maginness, Maginnis and Magenis. Other variations can be found within Irish records as "Mac Gintness" or "MacGuinice" and "MacGinnis". American records have also sometimes spelled Maginness as "McGuinness".

The Maginness surname is derived from the Gaelic word "Mac" meaning "son of" and Gionaois, a personal name believed to mean "One of Strength". It could also mean "one of the brave" or "son of the brave one".

The (-ness) ending to the surname reflects the Anglo-Norman influence on the Irish language which was one of the changes brought about when King Henry II invaded Ireland in 1172. Because of the Norman influence on the surname when it was anglicized, some of the Maginness patterns of variations have been quite different than those of Gaelic versions of the name.

The Maginness name has been an Irish mainstay for centuries and can be found in all Irish counties. As a result, there can be a wide variation of spellings and variations of the name in records. Its popularity as a surname became greatest in the 18th century and spread to other parts of the world with Irish migrations in the 19th century.

Today, the Maginness surname is found in records in the form of Maginness, Maginniss, McGuinness, Maginnis and Magenis, though its variations remain numerous.

Famous people with the name Maginness

1.Stephen Maginness: Actor, Writer, and Director 2.James Maginness: Executive Creative Director at SapientRazorfish 3.Graham Maginness: Irish former international football player 4.Stan Maginness: Northern Irish actor and comedian 5.Stephen Maginness: Record Producer at Nollywood Dream, London 6.Paul Maginness: Composer, Songwriter, and Producer 7.Paul Maginness: Managing Director at Path 284 Holdings 8.Niall Maginness: Journalist and Political Writer 9.Niall Maginness: Business Programmin Consultant 10.Richard Maginness: Paralympic lightweight rower 11.Christopher Maginness: Irish rugby union player 12.Barbara Maginness: Port Harcourt Curator & Head of Human Resources

Other surnames

Maginnes