Surname Mac Guin - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Guin: What does the surname Mac Guin mean?
The last name Mac Guin is derived from the Irish surname MacGuinness and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic MacDonncha. The MacGuinness family originated in what is now County Stranorlar in North West Ireland. The name was divided in two branches, the Mac Guin branch following the Ó Cuin branch which spread to other parts of Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man and even to the United States.
The name means “son of the hound of Duff”, indicating an ancestor who had a hound (or several hounds) that were associated with Duff, the ancient Kinnaird region of Ulster. The MacGuinness Clan were warriors and landed gentry but were at the same time famous for their hospitality of guests. As such they were favoured by such prestigious families as the O'Neill and O'Donell clans.
The MacGuin's were prominently involved in Irish politics for centuries. In 1641 the MacGuin clan rose up to fight against English oppression in what became known as the Ulster Rebellion, which attempted to revive Irish independence from Britain. Although the uprising ultimately failed, the MacGuin's courage and dedication to Irish freedom has left an enduring legacy.
Today the MacGuin name continues to be a proud part of the Irish heritage. Despite the limits and changes that time and politics have brought, the spirit of the original MacGuinness clan lives on in the warmth, pride, hospitality and courage they are remembered for.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Guin: Where does the name Mac Guin come from?
The Mac Guin name is mainly found in Northern Ireland, especially in County Antrim and County Armagh. Although not common throughout the whole United Kingdom, the name Mac Guin is found throughout Ireland, especially in the Gaeltacht regions.
In modern times, the majority of people with the Mac Guin surname come from a line of Scottish immigrants who settled in and around Belfast during the Plantation of Ulster, beginning in the mid-17th century. There is even an Irish and Ulster-Scots family of the name Mac Guin connected to nobility, whose clan is known as the Mac Guin of Imneach.
Mac Guin is also found in relatively high numbers in Scotland, specifically in the Borders and Central Lowlands regions. In Scotland, the name can be found as Mac Guin, MacGuinness, MacGueen, MacGwin, and MacGuin. These variations of the name can also be found throughout the United Kingdom, North America, and Australia. Moreover, members of the Mac Guin clan are scattered across Europe, the United States, Canada, and other countries in the world, obviously in smaller numbers.
Variations of the surname Mac Guin
Mac Guin is a Gaelic-Irish surname derived from two separate Gaelic names both meaning “son of”. The first part of Mac Guin is Mac, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac meaning “son of”. This is followed by the second name Guin, derived from Ó Guinn, meaning “descendant of Guinn”.
Variants of the surname Mac Guin include MacGuinness, which is an anglicised version of the Gaelic name, and MacGinnis, which is another variant. One can also find variants of Mac Guin such as MacQuin, MacQuinn, and MacQueen.
The family name is also found in altered forms and alternatives. These are also commonly anglicised versions such as McGuane, MacKane, Magin, and Maginn.
These variants of the Mac Guin surname are a testament to the diversity of surnames found in Ireland over the centuries. In the 1700s and 1800s, the surname Mac Guin was commonly found in many places throughout Ireland. As a result of this, variants and alternative spellings of the name developed in different regions and counties as people adopted local dialects.
The spelling Mac Guin is still predominant in many parts of Ireland and those who bear the name are considered proud members of the Gaelic Irish cultural heritage.
Famous people with the name Mac Guin
- Ewan MacGuin: Actor best known for a role in the movie “The Birdcage”
- Angus MacGuin: An automobile designer who worked for Ford and Chrysler
- Torin MacGuin: Scottish singer-songwriter
- Connor MacGuin: Professional hockey player
- Declan MacGuin: Famous Irish actor
- Becca MacGuin: American singer-songwriter
- Ian MacGuin: Famous highland bagpiper
- Rob MacGuin: Award-winning composer
- Tara MacGuin: Cigar-maker and tobacco aficionado
- Siobhan MacGuin: Dancer and choreographer