Surname Mc Guin - Meaning and Origin
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Mc Guin: What does the surname Mc Guin mean?
The last name Mc Guin is a patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Cuinn or Mac Guinn. The prefix “Mac” means “son of” and “Cuinn” in its original form translates roughly as “fair or comely” in Gaelic. The name was adopted by a number of families in Scotland and Ireland and is linked to certain areas of the collection of United Kingdom countries.
The first recording of the name was of a man called Eugenius McGuin in the County of Antrim, Northern Ireland in 1639. Since then, the name has spread throughout the United Kingdom, primarily Scotland and Ireland, where it is still commonly used today.
The Mc Guin surname is quite common throughout countries with Celtic heritage, such as Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and some parts of Galicia and Asturias, Spain. It is also is found in parts of the United States, having been carried there by immigrants from the British Isles.
Mc Guin is usually pronounced with a soft “G” as in “McGoon”. The name is incredibly common and is usually represented in shortened forms, such as Mac G, Mac Ginn, and Mac Guin. It is also regularly accented, often as Mac Guinne.
Overall, the Mc Guin surname has an Irish or Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Cuinn. It is a patronymic name, meaning “son of” and “Cuinn” roughly translates to “fair or comely”. It is quite common in the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States with numerous immigrants having brought the name there.
Order DNA origin analysisMc Guin: Where does the name Mc Guin come from?
The last name Mc Guin is most commonly associated with the Irish diaspora. Historically, the surname originated from the Gaelic Mac Guin or Mag Uidhin which translates as 'son of the hound'.
Today, the majority of people bearing this name are concentrated in Ireland. It ranks as the 54th most common surname and is especially prevalent in Counties Donegal and Monaghan.
Mc Guin’s have also been found in New Zealand, USA, Australia, Canada, England and Scotland. These countries have a large Irish diaspora to thank for their populations of the surname. It has remained particularly popular in Australia (ranking as the 533rd most common surnames) until this day.
The versatility of the Mc Guin surname has also meant that is can be adopted by non-Irish families. Even without any clear Irish roots, families in the US, Brazil, and other parts of the world have given their son’s and daughter’s the surname.
For those seeking a distinctive Irish surname, look no further than Mc Guin. The traditional Irish roots remain strong and its versatility has seen it adopted by families outside of Ireland.
Variations of the surname Mc Guin
The surname Mc Guin is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name MagFhionnghaile, which is derived from the first name Fionnghaile. The variants of this surname include MacFhionnghaile, MagFhionnghaile, MagGhuinn, McHuine, and MacGuinn.
In some cases, the Mac prefix has been dropped in favour of an 'Mc'. The most common variant is the Mc Guin spelling, although it is often written as McGuin or Maguinn, due to phonetic and regional variations.
The various anglicized spellings of this surname have developed from variations of the different dialects spoken throughout the country. In Scotland, the spelling is usually MacMhuine, MacGhuine, MacGhuine or MacFhionnghaile, while in Ireland the spelling is mostly MacGuin, MacGuinn or Maguinn.
In both Scotland and Ireland, the surnames derived from this root are used interchangeably, although the Scottish form is more commonly found.
The various forms of this surname may have been used interchangeably, as well as adopted or adapted by individuals depending on their historical or current region of residence. This explains how the variants of MagFhionnghaile, MagGhuinn, McHuine, and MacGuinn exist.
The other surnames derived from the same root include MagFhionngualala, MagFinn, MagFinne, MacGhinnie, MacGing ,MacGiusinner and McGaffey. Many of these surnames came about due to either mistaken identity or intentional anglicization of the original root.
Finally, it should be noted that the ending sound of the name, -Ghuinn or -Guin is pronounced like the English 'Wine'.
Famous people with the name Mc Guin
- Paul McGuinness: Irish music manager and co-founder of Principle Management Limited
- Clarence McGuinness: American track and field athlete
- Paul Mcguinness: Professional cyclist
- Doug Mcguinness: American professional golfer
- Roderick Mcguinness: American football player
- Susan Mcguinness: Canadian cross-country skier
- Nell Mcguinness: English playwright, novelist, and screenwriter
- Donny Mcguinness: Irish TV presenter and composer
- Joe Mcguinness: Canadian film director
- Patrick Mcguinness: British poet and professor of French Studies