Surname Mcginn - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mcginn: What does the surname Mcginn mean?
The surname McGinn is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mag Fhinn" which means "son of the fair". It's an anglicized form of this Gaelic name. This patronymic surname is primarily associated with people of light complexion or hair. It is commonly seen in the northern province of Ulster, specifically in counties Tyrone and Derry. Over the years, many variations of the name have been established, including but not limited to Maginn, Ginn, and Magan. The use of "Mc", or "Mac", signifies "son of", emphasizing the lineage from which the holder descends. When researching this surname, it's important to know the cultural, regional, and historical contexts in which it was used, as discrepancies in spelling can often lead to confusion or misinterpretation.
Order DNA origin analysisMcginn: Where does the name Mcginn come from?
The surname McGinn is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mag Fhinn," which translates to "son of the fair." It may likely refer to a person with blonde hair or a fair complexion. Also, there are other forms of this name, such as MacGinn, Maginn, and Ginn. The surname McGinn is widely spread across Ireland and Scotland and is reputed to be more common in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland. It's also common in counties Donegal and Derry.
In the recent age of immigration, the surname has found its way to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Today, the highest concentration of people with the surname McGinn can be found in Northern Ireland, followed by Scotland and the United States. It's also fairly common in England and Australia.
Variations of the surname Mcginn
The surname McGinn originates from Irish Gaelic, derived from the Gaelic name Mag Fhinn, meaning "son of the fair". As with many Irish names, there are numerous variants and spellings due to transliteration from Gaelic to English. Some variations include McGin, McGinnis, Maginn, Magin, McGing, Magan, and Megan.
The surname often bears the prefix "Mc" or "Mac", but versions may also be seen without, like Ginn or Ging. The "Mc" or "Mac" prefix essentially means "son of," so the surnames can sometimes be found with or without this prefix.
Also, in cases where Irish people emigrated, particularly to the United States, the spelling of their names sometimes changed to become more phonetic, leading to a multitude of different spellings like McGin, Mcginney, or McGyne.
There are also related surnames stemming from the same origin such as Fin, Finn, and Fynn. Surnames like Gynn or Ginnis may also be connected but might have different origins. It is believed that ancestors of the McGinn family were part of the ancient Dalriadan kingdom of the west coast of Scotland.
Finding the precise variants of the surname McGinn can be challenging due to the many influences on Irish surnames over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Mcginn
- Ciaran McGinn: A former Irish cricketer.
- James McGinn: A professional ice hockey player.
- Laryssa McGinn: An American professional triathlete.
- Conor McGinn: A Labour Party politician in the UK.
- Steve McGinn: A professional footballer currently playing for Hibernian.
- Jack McGinn: A former Chairman of Celtic Football Club.
- John McGinn: A professional footballer, who plays for Premier League side Aston Villa and the Scotland national team.
- Paul McGinn: Scotland international footballer and brother of John and Steve.
- Paddy McGinn: An Irish folk singer.
- Rose McGinn: An American artist known for her watercolor paintings.
- Eileen McGinn: An Irish Actress known for her work in theatre.
- Heather McGinn: An actress known for Grimm (2011), Dead of Night (2013) and Ain't It Cool with Harry Knowles (2012).
- Stephen McGinn: A Scottish footballer, who plays as a midfielder for Hibernian, and brother to John and Paul.
- Matt McGinn: A Scottish folk singer-songwriter.
- Mark McGinn: A New Zealand cricketer.