Surname Guiney - Meaning and Origin
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Guiney: What does the surname Guiney mean?
The last name Guiney is an anglicised variant of the ancient Irish surname ‘ÓGuingeanaigh’, which originated in what is now County Galway. It derives from the personal name ‘Guinceann’, which is derived from the Old-Gaelic element ‘ganc’, meaning ‘fair’ or ‘beautiful’. Evidence suggests that the original bearers of ÓGuingeanaigh were members of a powerful Dalcassian sept who after the arrival of the Normans, became Counts of Hy-Many in Connacht.
Guingeanaighs occupied a significant part of modern County Galway, particularly in the barony of Longford and the village of Monivea. The family was well known for its loyalty during the Jacobite wars and their affiliation with the Gaelic Order of Free Gardeners, a Catholic fraternity. By the 19th century, the paradigm of the Guingeanaigh family had shifted away from the Irish countryside and towards the east coast of the USA, where they had settled and the name was anglicised to Guiney.
Today, the name Guiney is commonly found throughout the English speaking world. It remains a recognisable form of the ancient Irish name, a reminder of its origin, reminding those who bear it of their ancestral ties.
Order DNA origin analysisGuiney: Where does the name Guiney come from?
The last name Guiney is most commonly found in Ireland today. This last name derives its origin from the old Gaelic "Ó Gnímh," which translates to "descendant of Gnímh." The Gaelic form of this name is itself derived from the old Irish word "gníomh," which means 'deed' or 'action.'
Those bearing the Guiney surname are believed to be descended from the Uí Néill dynasty, a powerful sept of the Northern Uí Néill lineage. The Uí Néill coalitions were a group of dynastic kindreds who held collective supremacy in Ireland for most of the Middle Ages. This dynasty was located in the modern day counties of Fermanagh, Tyrone, Armagh, and Louth.
Many of those who trace their family lineage back to the Uí Néill dynasty may find their ancestral roots in modern day Ireland. However, due to centuries of migration, the last name Guiney may also be found throughout North America, Australia, and the UK.
Overall, those bearing the last name Guiney can trace their heritage back to historic Irish roots and clans, many of whom still live in the Emerald Isles. The legacy of the Uí Néill dynasty and the meaning behind the name ‘Guiney’ are both a testament to the rich culture and history of Ireland.
Variations of the surname Guiney
The surname Guiney has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Guiney is of Gaelic and Irish origin and is an Anglicized form of two different Irish surnames- O’G familiarly known as Hogain and MacGovan.
The spelling variations of Guiney include: Gine, Gennidy, Guinney, Gony, Gonyea, Gana, Guine, Guina, Gane, Gannoway, Gann, Guanine, Gonye, Gonyea and Ginnity.
The surnames with similar origins are Hogain, O’ Hogain, Ogan, Ogain, O’Gaine, O’Gan, O’Gann, Ogney, Gaine, Ghan, Gann, Ghann, Gane, Guine, Gwithune, Gthuinne, Gwotshune, Magowan, Magowan, McGowan, McGowin, McGown, McGonigal, McGonigle, MacGown, Magovane, Makgowne, Makgovin, Mackpown, Makgume and Makhunh.
The origin of the surname came from the Irish root word for ‘Gil,’ or ‘golden,’ and ’Oin’ or ‘grandson.’ Originally, the Gaelic word for ‘descendant of’ was used to create Guiney, and then changed to Hogain, O’ Hogain, and McGowan over time.
In the 1600s and 1700s, people from Ireland with the surname Guiney or its variants migrated to the United States and to other parts of the world, making the surname quite common. Today, people bearing the surname Guiney usually trace their heritage to the Irish immigrant ancestors and can have any combination of the spellings and surnames above.
Famous people with the name Guiney
- Liam Guiney: is an Irish footballer who currently plays for Athlone Town in the League of Ireland First Division.
- Mary Guiney: was an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League infielder and right-handed hitter who played for the Racine Belles during the 1943 season.
- Paul Guiney: is an Irish hurler who plays for Clare Senior Championship club Inagh-Kilnamona and has been a member of the Clare senior hurling team since 2014.
- Rachael Guiney: is an Irish-American actor known for her work in The Cat and the Moon (2020), Riptide (2019) and movies and shows such as Eastbound & Down (2009), What Still Remains (2018), and The Feud (2017).
- Siobhán Guiney: is an Irish singer/songwriter who released her debut EP in 2016. She is most well known for her song "Paint the Town Red" which has been featured on Irish radio and television.
- Stephen Guiney: a member of the Eighth Ohio Infantry during the American Civil War, he was one of the first union soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
- Will Guiney: is an American actor, writer, and director best known for his work in Steel Zombies (2020), Buddymoon (2016), and Salad Days (2014).