Surname Meginnis - Meaning and Origin

Meginnis: What does the surname Meginnis mean?

The Meginnis surname is of Irish and Scottish origin. The root of the name likely lies in the old Gaelic name Mac Gille Fhinnein, which translates to "son of the servant/follower of St. Finnan". St. Finnan was a 6th century apostle in Scotland who founded many churches and was widely associated with religious devotion and faith. Meginnis is also a variant spelling of the old Gaelic name MacCoinis, which meant "son of Coinneach", a Scottish Gaelic name from the elements "cath" meaning “battle,” and “neach,” meaning “warrior.”

The name Meginnis likely first began to be used in Ireland and Scotland in the Middle Ages when it was more common for people to take on a last name in order to distinguish themselves from their neighbours. During this time, surnames were often adopted depending on physical features, occupation, or place of origin. So, while it's often hard to determine specific meaning when discussing surnames from this era as they changed often, the name Meginnis may have been adopted by individuals whose ancestors were in the service of St. Finnan or were known as a powerful warriors. Over the centuries, the name has spread across Europe and today, Meginnis is a fairly common surname worldwide.

Meginnis: Where does the name Meginnis come from?

Today, the last name Meginnis is most often found in the United States and in Ireland. In the United States, Meginnis is the 2,458th most common surname overall, and the 939th most common surname among members of the African-American community. It is especially common in the states of Louisiana and Missouri, where it is ranked as one of the top 1,000 surnames. Meginnis is even more common in Ireland, where it is regularly featured in the top 500 most common surnames. It is believed to be the anglicized version of the ancient Irish surname Mag Aonghusa, which is derived from the ancient Gaelic personal name Aonghus, meaning "one strength."

Despite its ancient origin, the last name Meginnis has evolved over time and is now carried by people scattered across the world. It has maintained its strongest presence in the US and Ireland, but can also be found in Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and more. The people who bear the Meginnis surname today are descended from the proud ancestors who first adopted it hundreds of years ago.

Variations of the surname Meginnis

The surname Meginnis is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Irish surnames Mac Aonghusa and MacGuinness. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word “Aonghus” which means “one strength” or “unique strength”. Variants of the surname Meginnis include Mac Aonondas, Mac Ennis, MacGuinnes, McGuinness, Ginnis, Aonondas, Ennis, and Ginnes.

In both Scotland and Ireland the spelling of the surname varies from family to family. In Scotland, the surname MacGuinness can be found with variations such as McGuinness and MacGuinnes, while in Ireland it can be found with variations such as Mac Aonghusa, Mac Aonondas, and Mac Ennis. There are some branches of the family where the surname has been changed to Ginnis or Ginnes.

The surname Meginnis is often found in association with other surnames that are of Scottish and Irish origin such as MacLeod, MacCulloch, MacFarlane, Smith, and Wallace. It is also occasionally found in England, where it may be spelled as Meginnes, Megines, and Miggines.

The Meginnis surname is an old Irish surname with centuries of history. It is found throughout Ireland and Scotland and is still fairly common in both countries. The surname has also spread throughout the world, with families bearing the Meginnis name living in Canada, the United States, Australia, and many other countries.

Famous people with the name Meginnis

• Kaylee Meginnis: Actress who starred in the TV series The Thundermans and Hannah Montana
• John Meginnis: American sports agent
• Edward Meginnis: American songwriter
• Steven Meginnis: American author
• William Meginnis: Leading figure in the Irish Land Commission
• Kay Meginnis: Singer and dancer
• Phoebe Meginnis: British socialite
• Kaelyn Meginnis: Actress who appears in the movie The Duff
• Owen Meginnis: Producer and former editor of BBC Blast
• Alice Meginnis: Australian actress known for her roles in films such as The Great Gatsby and Babe: Pig in the City.

Other surnames

Meginniss