Surname Mc Ginn - Meaning and Origin
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Mc Ginn: What does the surname Mc Ginn mean?
The last name Mc Ginn is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Ginn, which translates to “son of Ginn”. The name Ginn was likely derived from Geinne, an Old Irish word meaning “to unleash”.
The surname was first recorded in 1433 in the context of a land grant in Ireland, and the Tithe Applotment Books of the mid-19th century list numerous persons of the Mac Ginn name.
More recently, the Gaelic spelling Mac Ginn has largely given way to the Anglicized version Mc Ginn. While many Mc Ginns remain in Ireland, a large number emigrated to the United States during the 19th century in response to poverty and famine. As a result, the Mc Ginn surname can be seen in both Ireland and North America today.
The Mc Ginns have played a notable role in Irish history, particularly during the Home Rule crisis and the Irish War of Independence. Supporters of the Irish freedom movement included Charleson Mc Ginn, a barrister and Trinity College Dublin professor who held a prominent position in Sinn Fein.
Regardless of immigration status, the Mc Ginns remain an integral part of Ireland’s culture and history. Those bearing the surname have kept alive the Gaelic tradition of storytelling and have maintained a strong connection to Irish ancestry and heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMc Ginn: Where does the name Mc Ginn come from?
The last name McGinn is most commonly found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In Ireland, it is considered an Irish surname of Norman origin and has been found in the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Mayo, and Sligo. In the UK, it is most prominently found in the counties of Fermanagh and Tyrone, where it is considered an Ulster-Scots name.
In the United States, McGinn is the 49,383rd most common surname, according to the 2019 US Census. This name has been found in a variety of states including California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. It is believed that the McGinn name in the US was brought over from the UK and Ireland during the Great Irish Migration of the 1840s.
The McGinn name is also found in some other countries in small numbers, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. In Australia, the Mcginn name is most prominently found in the states of Victoria and South Australia, while in Canada, it is most prominent in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
Overall, the last name McGinn appears to be most common in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with smaller populations in other English-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname Mc Ginn
The surname Mc Ginn is an anglicized version of the Irish surname Mac Fhionghain. It originated in the Highlands of Scotland and is now found all over the world due to emigration. The variants of the surname Mc Ginn include Mac Gahan, Maghan, Gin, Gyin, Ginn, McGinne, McGinn, Gannon, Ginn and Ginns.
In England and Wales, the surname is most commonly found as McGinn. In Scotland, the most common forms of the name are McGinne and Mac Gahan. In Ireland, variant forms include Mac Fhionghain, Maghan, and Gann.
The name is most often derived from the Gaelic word “fionn” which can mean white or fair. This could either refer to a person’s fair complexion or could allude to a legendary Irish character, Fionn mac Cumhaill, who was renowned for his red hair. The surname could also be derived from the Gaelic word “gaeann” which means love.
The name has many derivatives and spellings. In Scotland, McGinne is the most common spelling but other variants like Mac Gahan, Maghan, McGinn and Gannon are also found. In England, the variants McGinne, McGinn, Ginn and Ginns are most commonly used. In Ireland, the surname Mac Fhionghain is the most commonly used variant, but the variants Maghan, and Gann can also be found.
The surname is generally associated with the Irish and Scottish cultures due to its Gaelic derivation. It is a symbol of proud Irish and Scottish heritage, but one that is also shared by many other countries around the world due to the massive emigration that has taken place over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Mc Ginn
- Crystal McGinn, a Canadian actress
- Owen McGinn, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the defunct Bumblebee Seafoods
- Jeff McGinn, Canadian film and television actor
- Craig McGinn, Scottish actor
- Jessica McGinn, American chef and television host
- Malcolm McGinn, Scottish politician
- Rhiannon McGinn, singer-songwriter
- Michael McGinn, American politician and the former mayor of Seattle
- Jake McGinn, American social media personality and actor
- Jordan McGinn, television presenter, filmmaker and co-founder of Get Reppin