Surname McAninch - Meaning and Origin
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McAninch: What does the surname McAninch mean?
The surname McAninch is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name 'MacAonghuis' which means 'son of Angus.' Angus, in Gaelic, translates to 'unique choice,' with 'Aonghus' being the god of love and youth in Celtic mythology. Therefore, the surname McAninch can be interpreted as 'descendant of the unique choice.' Like many surnames that start with 'Mc' or 'Mac,' it is patronymic, reflecting the practice of naming children after their fathers or a prominent male ancestor. The surname evolved over time with different spellings including MacAngus, MacInnes, McAngus, and more, due to various factors like regional dialects and Anglicization. The surname McAninch is more commonly found in Scotland and among those of Scottish descent. In general, the study and interpretation of surnames are part of the field of onomastics, the study of names and their origins.
Order DNA origin analysisMcAninch: Where does the name McAninch come from?
The surname McAninch is of Scottish origin. It is a derivative of the Gaelic surname MacAonghuis, which translates to "son of Angus." The surname has varied spellings including MacInnes, McInnes, McAngus, and McAninch among others, influenced by different regional pronunciations in Scotland. There's a contribution of spelling changes to the surname when some family members emigrated to other parts of the world. Angus is a historical region in the eastern part of Scotland which suggests that this surname originates from this place.
Today, the surname McAninch is most prevalent in the United States, specifically in the states of Kentucky and Indiana according to Forebears surname database. Other countries with notable prevalence include Canada and Australia. However, its distribution is rather scattered and not concentrated in large numbers in any specific location, indicating that the bearers of this surname are now widely spread across the globe, albeit in small populations.
Variations of the surname McAninch
The surname McAninch is of Scottish origin and is a variant of the surname MacInnes. The name originates from the Gaelic "MacAonghais," meaning "son of Angus." Over time and through migration, the surname has evolved into several different spellings and variants.
Common variants for McAninch include McIninch, McInnes, McInnish, McInnich, McInish, and McEninch. Like many Scottish surnames that start with "Mac" or "Mc," these could also potentially be spelled starting with "M'". Further derivatives could include dropping the "Mc/Mac/M'" prefix all together, such as Innes, Innish, or Ininch.
There are also variants where the "c" is replaced with a "k," like MckIninch or Mckinnes. Variations could also include additional letters or a slight change in spelling, like McAnenich or McAninick.
Variations of the surname can also change based on geographical location. For instance, immigrants to the United States might have altered the spelling to better align with English phonetics or simplified it for ease of pronunciation. This resulted in various spellings such as MacAninch, Mackininch, Mackinich or Mackinish.
All these variants derive from the same origin and are thus connected to the original surname, reflecting the clan's rich history and migration patterns.
Famous people with the name McAninch
- John McAninch: American television producer, director, and actor.
- Thomas McAninch: Bake Off: The Professionals presenter.
- Maggie McAninch: author of the Sugar Bear series.
- David McAninch: former president of Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.
- Caleb McAninch: American triple jump athlete.
- William Land McAninch: US Air Force lieutenant general.
- Michael McAninch: American football player.
- James McAninch: former US Secretary of Agriculture.
- Robert McAninch: US Navy admiral.
- Venecia McAninch: American author and literary agent.