Surname OGuinan - Meaning and Origin
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OGuinan: What does the surname OGuinan mean?
The last name OGuinan is an Irish surname originating from the Gaelic Ó Guinéain, which is derived from guineach, meaning “little one” or “youth.” The origin of the name is attributed to the ancient Gaelic Cenel Lurgan in Leinster, which was a province of ancient Ireland. Historical records show that the O’Guinans were part of a very powerful sept of Uí Néill, an Irish clan descended from the subclass of the ancient Connachta. These Connachta warriors took part in early Irish wars and raids in order to maintain and expand their territories.
The OGuinan family is divided into three main septs. The first are the northern OGuinans, which is a branch descended from the ancient rulers of Tír Conaill, a provincial kingdom of northern Ireland. The second sept are the southern OGuinans, who were descended from the powerful Ó hUiginns in the kingdom of Munster. The third sept are the Uí Cheinnselaig branch which are also of Munster origin.
The OGuinans in Ireland were landowners and warriors who held their lands and titles due to feats of arms conferred as rewards upon them, at many points in their storied history. The O’Guinans of Duhallow in County Cork were closely linked to that province throughout their centuries of rule there. They were directly attached to the notable O'Keeffe's of Cork.
Today, OGuinan remains a popular surname in Ireland. Some famous members of the clan are Joseph OGuinan, a noted Irish merchant of the 18th century, and Sean OGuinan, an Irish war hero honored for his bravery during World War I.
Order DNA origin analysisOGuinan: Where does the name OGuinan come from?
The surname OGuinan is most commonly found in Ireland today. In 1890, the surname was relatively rare since only 29 people in the United States of America had the surname. However, due to increased emigration from Ireland to the United States, the surname has spread across the world. Currently, OGuinan is the 8,650th most common surname in the United States.
In Ireland, the surname is even more popular. Currently, OGuinan is the 771st most common surname in the country. The surname is particularly prevalent in the Province of Connacht, where it ranks as the 155th most common surname according to the online Irish genealogy website, Eneclann. Additionally, the Irish Telephone Directory has 883 people with the surname OGuinan listed. Most with the surname are located in the counties of Galway (331), Mayo (148), and Roscommon (132).
Outside of Ireland, the surname has spread to numerous countries due to increased immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries. The surname has spread to the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the United States, and numerous other countries. Additionally, spelling variations of the surname, such as O'Guinan, have also spread further afield.
Variations of the surname OGuinan
The surname OGuinan has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include O'Guinan, OGuinane, O'Gonan, OGonane, O'Gowan, O'Goonan, O'Gonain, and O'Gunnane. It is a Gaelic surname with an Irish origin, specifically from the island of Munster.
The first part of the surname “O’” is an Irish prefix indicating a person is descended from a given surname. In this case, the surname is derived from the first name “Guinan” or the personal name “Goan”, meaning “fair haired”.
Another variant of the surname is O’Guana, which is derived from the Irish “Cuiginan”, which means “son of the fifth child”. This variant is most commonly seen in County Cork, Ireland.
In some, rarer cases, the surname OGuinan has been changed to O’Gwinnan, O’Gwinnane, O’Gwennan, O’Gwennane, O’Gwinan, O’Gwinane and O’Gwinna. These spellings can be traced to the Irish name “Guinan”.
The OGuinan name can also be found with spellings such as O’Guigan, O’Guiggan, OGuighan, and OGuiggan. These spellings are from the Irish Gaelic “MacCuigin”, meaning “son of the fifth son”.
Lastly, the O’Gonane surname is derived from the Irish “O’Guran”, which means “descendant of Guran”, which translates to “chieftain”.
Overall, the surname O’Guinan and its variations are closely related to each other. Despite minor spelling differences, all of these surnames share a common Gaelic origin.
Famous people with the name OGuinan
- Kasey O'Guinan, aka Kasey O: an American television producer, writer, and comedian. He is best known for creating and producing the TV series Squirm together with his partner Ryan Ridley.
- Colm O'Guinan, an Irish television personality who hosts several game shows broadcasted on RTÉ.
- Jack O'Guinan, an Australian cricketer who played for Victoria Cricket Club in the 1870s and early 1880s.
- Peter O'Guinan, an Irish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for multiple clubs from 1911 to 1926.
- Val O'Guinan, an American actor and stuntman who appeared in films, television, commercials, and stage productions in Hollywood and abroad.
- Bobby O'Guinan, an American boxer who competed as a Light Heavyweight in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Bill O'Guinan, a radio presenter and disc jockey from the mid-20th century.
- Paul O'Guinan, an Irish pianist and composer who wrote several works for orchestra between 1933 and 1951.
- Paula O'Guinan, an American professional golfer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Ric O'Guinan, an American record producer, songwriter, and music engineer who produced a variety of musical acts in the 1960s and 1970s, including Ronnie Bright, Billy Byers, and Don Rendell.