Surname Mc Gwinn - Meaning and Origin

Mc Gwinn: What does the surname Mc Gwinn mean?

The last name Mc Gwinn is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Suibhne, which translates to ‘son of Suibhne’. The Irish name Suibhne is a personal name that combines the elements ‘sui’, meaning ‘well’, and ‘bhann’, meaning ‘white’.

Historically, this last name is associated with the O’Suibhne clan who were based in Donegal and Leitrim. However, due to their prominence, the surname was less or more adopted throughout Ireland and Scotland.

As the O’Suibhne clan was associated with the prestigious Ui Neachtain Gaelic noble family, members of the name Mc Gwinn were among the ruling families of the area throughout the early Medieval period. The O’Suibhne family represented the area in a number of famous Irish battles, such as at the Siege of Carrickfergus Castle in 1210 and the Battle of The Yellow Ford in 1598.

Today the Mc Gwinn name is found throughout the world. It is a fairly common name in Ireland, Scotland, England, Australia, and the United States. People with this surname can be found in all sorts of professions, from professional athletes and businessmen to artists and musicians.

Mc Gwinn: Where does the name Mc Gwinn come from?

The last name Mc Gwinn is found predominantly in Ireland and Scotland, with the majority of those bearing the name located in the province of Ulster. In Ireland, the name is most concentrated in the counties of Antrim and Donegal in the north and Cork in the south. The name also has significant concentrations in the Scottish Highland region, as well as in Queensland, Australia.

Outside these areas, the surname Mc Gwinn is much less common but still found in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and other parts of the world. According to the US Census Bureau, the number of individuals bearing the name Mc Gwinn, while low, was on the rise in 2020. The surname can be found in large cities such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas, as well as in smaller towns throughout the country.

Though the original Mc Gwinns were found in Ireland, the name has since spread around the world as its bearers have migrated and moved. In some instances, the name has even been adopted by people with no direct link to Ireland or Scotland. However, the name remains most common in areas which boast a strong Irish or Scottish heritage.

Variations of the surname Mc Gwinn

The surname Mc Gwinn originated in Scotland and is derived from the Irish Mac Éagain, which means “son of Egan” or “ beloved”. It usually also has variant spellings of McGinn, MacGinn, Magwinn, MacGwinn, MacGwin, MacGuin, and McGwinn.

In Scotland, versions of the surname can be found as McGuin, McGuinn, and McGin. In Northern Ireland, the surnames MacGinn, MacGinnis, MacGinion, and Maginnis can also be seen. It is also present in parts of the United States, especially Pennsylvania and New York, and go by the spellings MacGinn, MacGin, McGwin, and McGwinn.

It is an anglicised version of the Irish name Mac Éagain and could refer to a descendant of Egan, a 10th century Irish clan chief. MacGuin and MacGinn are derived from the Irish name MacGuinne, which is an anglicisation of the Irish name MacGuinné, meaning “son of Guinne” - an early surname of the late 10th century.

The Mac Gwinn surname is thought to have originated in the Scottish Highlands in the early Medieval period. It is derived from a pre-Norman Gaelic name of the 14th century - MacGuinn. Alternate spellings have included Gwin, Gwinne, McGwin, McGuinn, and McGin.

The surnames of the same origin as Mc Gwinn also include McGinley, MacGinley, McGuinley, Maginley, MacGinley, MacGinnis, MacGinion and Maginnis.

Famous people with the name Mc Gwinn

• Midge McGwinn: American art director, artist, and decrease expert.
• LaRue McGwinn: Grammy-nominated American country music songwriter and musician.
• Byron McGwinn: Professional poker player who has won the World Series of Poker tournament.
• Paul McGwinn: San Francisco bay area attorney and environmentalist.
• Charlene McGwinn: Grammy Award-winning American country music singer, songwriter and musician.
• Dan McGwinn: American singer-songwriter, actor, and multi-instrumentalist.
• Michelle McGwinn: Reality TV personality and former member of the cast of MTV's The Challenge.
• Joanna Mcgwinn: American music director & TV composer, known for working on the film Legally Blonde.
• Alma Mcgwinn: American landscape artist and winner of the San Francisco County Fair Fine Arts Best of Show Award.
• Ishmael Mcgwinn: Denver Broncos American Football linebacker and undrafted free agent.

Other surnames

Mc Gwin