Surname McGuiney - Meaning and Origin
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McGuiney: What does the surname McGuiney mean?
The surname McGuiney (McGuinness, McGonigle, MacGuinness, and McGunigal) originates from the Irish name Mag Aonghais, which means “son of Aonghas”. The original Irish form of the surname McGuiney is Mac Aonghuis, meaning “son of Angus”. The given name Angus derived from the Gaelic Aonghus, which is composed of two elements – Aon which meant “one” and gus which meant “force” or “strength”. If taken together, then the name would mean “one force” or “one strength”.
The surname McGuiney is most common in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland. It is believed to be of Scottish origin, possibly from the Gaelic personal name Aonghuz, originally found in the east coast of Scotland. It is often an anglicized form of the surname “MacGuinness”, which also means “son of Angus”.
Other variants of the name exist such as McGinnis and Guiness. While they all may have a similar meaning, they may have separate origins.
McGuiney is a very common surname in Ireland, with many families in the province of Ulster. Those bearing the name today are believed to be descended from ancient Irish clans who trace their ancestry to Aonghuz. With its roots traced back centuries and its history tied to land, family, and strength, the McGuiney name is one of prominence in Ireland and beyond.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGuiney: Where does the name McGuiney come from?
The surname McGuiney is a relatively uncommon Irish name today. It is most common in the Ulster and Connacht provinces of Ireland. The McGuiney name is believed to come from the Mac Mhuimhneach tribe, which was based in the Connacht province until the 12th century.
The McGuiney name is quite ancient, and dates back to the 13th century when the O'Neill of Tir Eogain clan ruled in Ulster. The name was also used in the west of Ireland by the O'Connor clan in the 14th century.
The name is rare in the United States and Canada, but there is a small population in both countries today. In the UK and Australia, the name is even more uncommon.
The lesser-known variations of the McGuiney name include MacCuney, MacEwiney, McGuinney, McGuinny, McGuinness, and MacGuinney. They all stem from the same ancient Irish name, and each has its own unique spelling of the surname.
The surnames McGuiney and McGuinness are both popular in Ireland today, but for the most part, the McGuiney surname has remained relatively rare outside of Ireland.
Variations of the surname McGuiney
The surname McGuiney has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common alternative spellings for McGuiney include McGinney, Maguinness, Maginness, McGinnis, McGinlys, McGuinness, McGinnies, McKenney, McGennis, and Ginness.
McGuiney is an Anglicisation of the Irish name Mag Uidhir. This surname derives from Mag meaning ‘son’ and Uidhir meaning ‘otter’. The meaning of this surname is thought to be either ‘Otter’s son’ or ‘Otter-like one’.
The highest concentrations of the McGuiney surname can be found in Ireland: in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. However, the surname is also fairly prevalent in the United Kingdom, and especially in the United States, where many Irish immigrants settled during the 19th and 20th centuries.
In Ireland, the surname is also occasionally known as McGuinness. This is a variation of the Irish form of the name, Mag Uidhir. McGinley is another variation of the name which arose when McGinleys emigrated to Scotland in the 18th century. The name McGinley has historically been especially common in Scotland, but is also found in parts of Northern Ireland. Additionally, McGinnis is a variant of McGuiney, particularly found in Scotland and Ireland.
Overall, the surname McGuiney has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Each name has its own subtle differences and history.
Famous people with the name McGuiney
- Dr. Shannon McGuiney: American surgeon and founder of Neurosurgery San Antonio
- Andrew McGuiney: Australian cricketer, played for Australia in the late 1800s
- Margaret McGuiney: British nurse, decorated for bravery in World War I
- David McGuiney: American actor and songwriter, recipient of Academy Award for co-writing “Chariots of Fire”
- Danielle McGuiney: Canadian figure skater, member of Olympic gold medal team
- John McGuiney: Irish rugby union player, member of triumphant team in Six Nations of 1911
- Pat McGuiney: American baseball player, All-Star in 1923
- Thomas McGuiney: Scottish poet and playwright, known for writing “The Falls of Clyde”
- Frances McGuiney: Australian singer, former U.K. chart-topper in the mid-70s
- Joe McGuiney: Irish footballer, UEFA Cup winner in 2008