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Irish surname

McGuinness: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mag Aonghuis, Mag Aonghusa · 'son of Aonghus' (one-choice)

Woulfe (1923) gives McGuinness, Magennis and Maginness as anglicised forms of Mag Aonghuis, 'son of Aonghus', the name of an ancient and powerful family in Co. Down who became chief lords of Iveagh. In the 1890 birth indexes there were 128 entries for the name in Ireland, found principally in Dublin, Monaghan and Louth.

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Coat of arms associated with the McGuinness surname
Irish formMag Aonghuis, Mag Aonghusa
Meaning'son of Aonghus' (one-choice)
CountiesDown, Dublin, Monaghan, Louth
Other spellings7

Origin of the McGuinness name

Woulfe: originally dynasts of Clann Aodha, a subdivision of Ui Eathach Cobha; in the 12th century their power greatly increased and they became chief lords of all Ui Eathach, now the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh, Co. Down. O'Laverty names Aodh, seventh in descent from Eochaidh Cobha, as the ancestor Clann Aodha was named from.[1][3]

  1. 12th centuryMagennis power greatly increases; they become chief lords of all Iveagh.[1][3]
  2. 1153Aedh Magennis, chief of Clann Aodha, witnesses MacLochlain's charter to Newry abbey.[3]
  3. 1314 and 1315Edward II's letters address the Magennis head as 'Chief of the Irish of Iveagh'.[3]
  4. 1586Bagenal describes Iveagh, 'M'Gynis countrey', governed by Sir Hugh Magennis.[3]
  5. Close of the 16th centuryName found in many parts of Leinster and Connacht, and Co. Limerick.[1]
  6. 1610Sir Arthur Magennis is head of the clan.[3]
  7. 1611In February, Iveagh lands including the Castlewellan estate are granted to Magennises.[3]
  8. 1690'MA GENNIS' and 'MAC GENNIS' appear in Sir James Terry's list of Irish septs.[5]
  9. 1890128 entries in Irish birth indexes, 16 spellings; chiefly Dublin, Monaghan, Louth.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. DownMagennis lords of Iveagh (Upper and Lower Iveagh baronies); strongholds included Rathfriland, Castlewellan, Newcastle and Scarva.[1][3]
Co. DublinFirst of the counties where McGuinness was principally found in the 1890 birth indexes.[4]
Co. MonaghanAmong the counties where McGuinness was principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. LouthAmong the counties where McGuinness was principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. LimerickName found there by the late 16th century; the rare form MacGuinnessy 'is now found' there (Woulfe).[1]

Notable people named McGuinness

Sir Hugh MagennisGoverned Iveagh, 'M'Gynis countrey'; in 1586 Bagenal called him 'the cyviliest of all the Irishrie in those parts'.[3]
Sir Arthur MagennisHead of the clan in 1610, holding large estates granted by the King; his castle was at Rathfriland.[3]

Other spellings

Magennis · Maginness · Maguinness · Maguiness · MacGuinness · MacGenniss · MacGuinnessy[1]

Scottish connection

Woulfe treats Mag Aonghuis and Mac Aonghuis ('son of Aonghus') as variants of each other, and notes that Mac Aonghuis is 'also the name of a Scottish clan in Argyleshire'. He does not say the Magennises of Iveagh came from Scotland.[1][2]

The McGuinness coat of arms

The name appears as 'MA GENNIS' and 'MAC GENNIS' in the 'List of Names of Irish Septs as given in the Book of Arms, compiled by Sir James Terry, Athlone Herald (1690)', as printed by Matheson. The list gives sept names only; it does not describe any arms, and it does not mean that everyone named McGuinness is entitled to a coat of arms.[5]

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the McGuinness surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

McGuinness crest gifts

Clan Macguinness Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap ZS78 Macguinness Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Macguinness Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Macguinness Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapKV84 Classic Cap - Macguinness Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Macguinness Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

McGuinness surname: questions

What does the surname McGuinness mean?

Woulfe gives McGuinness as an anglicised form of Mag Aonghuis, 'son of Aonghus'.[1]

Are McGuinness and Magennis the same name?

Yes. Woulfe lists Maguiness, Maguinness, Magennis, Maginness, MacGuinness and MacGenniss among the anglicised forms of the same Irish surname, Mag Aonghuis.[1]

Where in Ireland is McGuinness from?

The Magennis family were lords of Iveagh in Co. Down. In the 1890 birth indexes the name was found principally in Dublin, Monaghan and Louth.[1][4]

Is McGuinness Irish or Scottish?

Woulfe describes Mag Aonghuis as the name of an ancient and powerful family in Co. Down. He notes that the related form Mac Aonghuis is also the name of a Scottish clan in Argyleshire.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Mag Aonghuis, Mag Aonghusa — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/mag/mag-aonghuis-mag-aonghusa.php
  2. Mac Aonghuis, Mac Aonghusa — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/maca/mac-aonghuis-mac-aonghusa.php
  3. The Barony of Iveagh, by James O'Laverty (from An Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Conor, Vol. I, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/articles/baronyiveaghjol/index.php
  4. McGuinness — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mcguinness.php
  5. List of Names of Irish Septs (Terry, 1690) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/irish-septs.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).