Surname McGuinn - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McGuinn: What does the surname McGuinn mean?
The last name McGuinn is of Irish origin and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mag Aonghusa or Mag Aonghuis, meaning "son of Angus". The Gaelic personal name Aonghus is composed of Celtic elements meaning ‘one’ and ‘choice’. Hence, Aonghus can be interpreted as 'the only choice.' This surname primarily belongs to the families from County Down in Northern Ireland. Like many Irish surnames, it has many spelling variations, including but not limited to Magennis, Maguiness, McGuinness, and Guinness. The McGuinn family motto is "Sub hoc signo vinces," which translates as "Under this sign, thou shalt conquer." This indicates a family history of battle and victory. The surname also has a notable presence in the arts, with Roger McGuinn being a founding member of the 1960s American rock band The Byrds.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGuinn: Where does the name McGuinn come from?
The surname McGuinn is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mag Fhionnain", a patronymic name derived from the personal name "Fionnán", meaning "fair", or "white". The prefix "Mag" translates as "son of". Therefore, the literal translation of the name McGuinn is "son of Fionnán". McGuinn, along with alternative spellings such as McGinn, McGwynn, or Maguinn, often originates from families hailing from various parts of Ireland, predominantly in the northern region. Today, it is found primarily in Ireland and other English-speaking countries where the Irish diaspora is substantial. Like many other Irish surnames, the geographical dispersion of the McGuinn surname increased significantly in the 19th and early 20th centuries due to the migrations caused by the Great Famine in Ireland. As a result, the McGuinn surname is not uncommon in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite the diaspora, the name remains more prevalent in Ireland than anywhere else.
Variations of the surname McGuinn
The surname McGuinn primarily originates from Irish descent, stemming from the Gaelic name "Mag Fhionnain," which translates to "son of fair child". Variations in spelling over the centuries due to misunderstandings, literacy levels, and Anglicization have resulted in many different versions of this name. Some of these variants may include: Maguinn, McGinn, MacGuinn, MacGinn, and Maginn.
Additionally, the prefix Mc (or Mac) in Irish names often gets substituted with O', thus leading to variations such as O'Guinn or O'Ginn. The prefix can also entirely get dropped, resulting in Guinn or Ginn as possible surnames.
Another factor often contributing to variations is regional pronunciation, such as the use of 'V' in some areas of Ireland resulting in MagVinn or McVinn.
Finally, Americanized versions of Irish surnames are also common, so McGuinn might be modified to sound more English, resulting in surnames such as Gwinn or Winn.
It's important to note these are merely possibilities based on common patterns, and each individual family name's history may vary.
Famous people with the name McGuinn
- Roger McGuinn: An American musician, he is famous as the frontman of The Byrds, a rock band from the 1960s. He has also had a successful solo career.
- Mark McGuinn: A country music artist from America. Best known for his top 10 single "Mrs. Steven Rudy" in 2001.
- Bruce McGuinn: Former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop for the New York Giants in 1968.
- Chris McGuinn: A filmmaker and actor, known for "The Big Day", "Farewell Darkness", and "The Mule".
- Heather McGuinn: An actress known for her work in "1985", a feature film directed by Yen Tan.
- James McGuinn: An American radio presenter, currently working as a program director for a radio station in Minneapolis.
- Spencer McGuinn: A published author known for his crime fiction books. Please note that some of the listed individuals may not be 'famous' in a traditional sense, but they have achieved recognition in their respective fields.