Surname Mc Guiness - Meaning and Origin
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Mc Guiness: What does the surname Mc Guiness mean?
McGuiness is an Irish patronymic surname meaning "son of Guiney", where Guiney is a pet form of the name Angus, which derives from the Gaelic personal name Aonghus, meaning "one choice". It is most commonly found in counties Fermanagh, Armagh, and Tyrone in Northern Ireland.
The spelling of the name may vary depending on where its origin can be traced back to. The spelling "McGuinness" is generally used in County Fermanagh, while "Magennis" is seen in County Armagh and "McGennis" in Northern County Tyrone.
The McGuiness name is associated with a chief who was one of the founding members of the O’Neill clan around the 12th century. This clan has a famous history with many Irish legends and folklore attached to it. Much of their power in the area was attributed to the monastic site of Devenish, which continues to be a celebrated landmark today.
McGuiness is believed to be derived from a personal name and is seen as a badge of honor and symbol of ancestry among those who have borne the name for generations. The McGuiness line is proud of its Irish heritage and still honors its ancient background through a shared cultural identity.
Order DNA origin analysisMc Guiness: Where does the name Mc Guiness come from?
The last name Mc Guiness is most commonly associated with Ireland, thanks to its Irish origins. The name is derived from the Irish Mac Gaughan, which is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mag Eachainn, meaning "son of Eachann". It is most common in parts of Ulster, particularly Counties Down, Antrim and Londonderry, as well as in the Republic of Ireland.
While the name is still very much associated with Ireland, it is now far from confined to the Emerald Isle. As many as 180,000 people with the surname Mc Guiness now live in the United States, making it the ninth most common Irish name in that country, according to the 1990 U.S. Census. Immigrant waves in the 19th and 20th centuries saw many Irish families of the name settle in the United States, and particularly in the northeast.
Other countries with significant numbers of Mc Guinesses include Canada, England, Scotland and Australia. As with many Irish surnames, it has spread across the world thanks to the diasporic nature of the Irish population. Many of those who bear the name now will have distant ties to Ireland.
Variations of the surname Mc Guiness
The surname Mc Guiness has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants are Mac Guiness, MacGinness, MacGuinnes, and McGuinness. A less common variant is MacGuines.
Some common surnames that are derived from Mc Guiness are McGeeney, McGeenees, Maguinness, Maginness, Maginess, Maguire, Magwyer, and Magee. These surname variations are common not only in Ireland, but throughout Europe, United States, and Australia.
Other surnames that have a similar origin are Gween, Gwynn, Gwin, Gwinn, and Gwine. These surnames are primarily used in Scotland and northern England.
Mc Guiness can also be seen spelled as Ginnis, Ginniss, and MacGinniss.
Other names that have various spellings of Mc Guiness are McGuin, MacGuyn, McGugh, and Macgough.
Mc Guiness is also sometimes spelled as Ginnis, Ginniss, Maguiness, MacGywney, MacGwinney, and Magwynn.
In Irish tradition, the Mc Guiness surname is of Gaelic origin and is found mainly in the counties of Donegal, Derry, Fermanagh, Antrim, and parts of Belfast. In some cases, it is also seen in the neighbouring county of Monaghan. The name roughly translates to “son of Gwillim” or “son of William” in English.
Famous people with the name Mc Guiness
- Liam Mc Guiness: English actor known for his roles in films such as Layer Cake and Inception.
- Paddy Mc Guinness: English comedian and television presenter. He is well-known for presenting game shows such as Take Me Out and The £100k Drop.
- Keith Mc Guinness: Irish politician and member of the lower house of the Oireachtas. He served as Minister for Trade and Commerce from 1997-2002.
- Tara Mc Guinness: Irish film and television actress who has appeared in shows such as Vikings, Little Women, and Game of Thrones.
- Pierce Mc Guinness: Irish singer-songwriter who is the front man and lead vocalist for the rock band ‘PJVP’.
- Jarlath Mc Guinness: Irish actor and writer, best known for his work in the television series Father Ted and Northern Lights.
- Patrick Mc Guinness: Irish international soccer player who has been capped at senior level for his country of birth, Northern Ireland.
- Sean Mc Guinness: Northern Irish musician and founding member of the band ‘The Undertones’, whose hits include 'Teenage Kicks' and ‘It’s Gonna Happen’.
- Conor Mc Guinness: Irish actor and producer who has appeared in films such as ‘The Commitments’ and ‘Agnes Browne’.
- Neil Mc Guinness: English professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments throughout Europe.