Surname MacGwyn - Meaning and Origin
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MacGwyn: What does the surname MacGwyn mean?
The last name MacGwyn is an Anglicization of the Gaelic name Mac Gaoithín, which can be translated to mean “son of the gentle wind.” The MacGwyns are thought to have come from Scotland, having been part of the large number of people who immigrated to the region in the early medieval period from other parts of the British Isles. The name MacGwyn is most commonly found in Scotland, especially in the lowlands.
The MacGwyns are thought to have taken their name from their ancestor Gaoithín, the Gaelic word for “gentle wind.” This is fitting, as MacGwyn is often associated with travel, as well as messengers of news. The MacGwyns were known as travelling bards and singers, who carried news from one place to another. They were also renowned as excellent musicians and were often employed by the nobility and local communities to entertain them.
The MacGwyns are still common in Scotland today, and the name has even spread to other parts of the English speaking world. The name is most commonly found in Scotland, although there are a few individuals who bear the name MacGwyn elsewhere. On the whole, the MacGwyns have left behind a legacy of music and travel, and the name remains an important part of the nation’s history.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGwyn: Where does the name MacGwyn come from?
The last name MacGwyn is most commonly found in Scotland, Ireland, and the United States today.
Scotland is the country of origin for the MacGwyn surname. It is found most heavily in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, particularly the Inner Hebrides and the Outer Hebrides. There is also a strong presence in the Northern Isles, particularly the Orkney Islands.
In Ireland, the most common areas to find the MacGwyns are the counties of Donegal, Galway, and Cork. It is also a fairly common surname in other parts of the Emerald Isle, such as Clare, Leinster, and the counties of Connacht.
In the U.S., the MacGwyn surname is most commonly found in the Northeast and Midwest. New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan have the strongest MacGwyn presence in the United States. The surname also has small pockets of presence in Texas, California, North Carolina, and New Hampshire.
Overall, the MacGwyn surname is still relatively uncommon today. It is most heavily concentrated in Scotland, Ireland, and parts of the United States. The rest of the areas in which it can still be found has only sparse pockets of MacGwyns, making it a relatively rare surname.
Variations of the surname MacGwyn
The surname MacGwyn is an anglicized version of the Gaelic MacGuaibhin. It has several spellings and variants, including MacGwin, MacGown, MacGuinn, McGhee, McGuin, Magown, Gwyne, Gwin, Gwyn, Gwynn, Gwinne, Gwynne, Guenne, and Guin.
In some cases, individuals with the surname MacGwyn may have been confused with the surname MacGloin, which was derived from the Irish Ó Glúin.
The MacGwyn surname is common in Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland and the United States. In Scotland, it is found mainly in the Formartine and Banffshire regions. In England, it is mostly found in Lancashire, County Durham and Northumbria.
In several parts of the Scottish Borders, the names MacGwyn and McGhee are synonymous, and interchanged freely. Some border families used both names interchangeably. The Sears family of England, for example, was known by both MacGwyn and McGhee.
Other names are colloquially associated with the MacGwyn surname, such as Gwynne-Jones, which is a Welsh variant of the same origin. Additionally, MacGwyn could be confused with the Gaelic MacGhee surname, especially in some parts of Scotland.
Variations of the MacGwyn surname can also be found in North America, especially in Canada and the United States, where many individuals from the British Isles had immigrated. In the United States the surname has been recorded as Gwin, Gwinne, Gwyn, Gwynn, and McGhee, as well as MacGwyn.
Famous people with the name MacGwyn
- Emma MacGwynn: Actress from Scotland, best known for her roles in the films The Darkest Shore, SeaFall, and 12 Dead Roses.
- John MacGwynn: British author and screenplay writer who wrote the novel Chain Reaction and its screenplay adaptation.
- Rhys MacGwynn: British singer and songwriter who debuted his album Brooklyn in 2017.
- Bram MacGwynn: Canadian actor who has appeared in several movies and TV series such as Supernatural, Gossip Girl, and Once Upon a Time.
- Emily MacGwynn: An American author most known for her non-fiction works writing about anthropology and archaeology
- Georgina MacGwynn: British action actress and stuntwoman who has appeared in films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Mad Max: Fury road.
- Mark MacGwynn: American artist and animator who has worked on films like All Walt Disney films, Star Wars The Force Awakens, and Assassin's Creed.
- Seth MacGwynn: British rock musician and singer who formed the band Dirty Mac in 2012.
- Keegan MacGwynn: Canadian comedian and actress, best known for her stand-up comedy.
- Alice MacGwynn: British fashion design student who won the Rising Star Award in 2018 for her contributions in the fashion industry.