Surname Guinnane - Meaning and Origin

Guinnane: What does the surname Guinnane mean?

The last name Guinnane is a surname of Irish origin. Derived from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Suibhne, the name can translate to ‘son of Sweeny’. It originated in the kingdom of Connacht, which is located in Ireland’s modern-day west coast. It’s believed that the surname got its start in this particular part of the country because of its close proximity to the sea and the fact that the area was home to many fishermen during the Middle Ages.

The surname first appeared in records in the late 1200’s in County Galway, where many of the descendants of the family still live today. The surname lodgement from other Irish clans, such as the O'Connors and the O'Malley's, can also be traced to the Guinnane family.

The surname has been passed down from generation to generation, becoming an ingrained part of Irish culture. It has even spread across the world, with descendants of the family found in the US, UK, and other English-speaking countries.

The name Guinnane is steeped in history and can be seen as a testament to Irish heritage and culture. For those with the last name, it can be used as a proud connection to their ancestral roots and remind them of all that they have inherited.

Guinnane: Where does the name Guinnane come from?

The last name Guinnane is most commonly found in Ireland and the United Kingdom today. There are records of the name appearing in County Tipperary, Ireland as early as the 17th century, with variants of the name appearing in records throughout the country. In the United Kingdom, the Guinnane surname is also associated with County Limerick, primarily in the south-west of Ireland, especially in the villages of Ballyorgan and Athea.

The name Guinnane is thought to be derived from the Irish Ó Gaoithín, a surname meaning ‘descendant of Gaoithín’, a personal name of unknown origin. While the name is most strongly associated with Ireland and the United Kingdom, there have also been records of the Guinnane surname elsewhere in the world, primarily in parts of the United States, Australia, and Canada. It is likely that those with the name Guinnane who live outside of Ireland and the United Kingdom are descendants of immigrants who left during the 19th century.

Variations of the surname Guinnane

The surname Guinnane is an anglicised version of the Irish name Ó Geimhneáin, also found in the forms Ó Geimin, Ó Gaimín and Gamhain, and is found in both Ireland and the United Kingdom.

It is derived from the Gaelic word óg meaning “young”, joined by the word geimh meaning “affection, love”. Thus, the literal meaning of this surname is “young love”.

The modern variants of the name Guinnane include Quinnane, Gwinan, Gwinnane, Gwinne, Gwynane, Gwynne, Gweinane and Guinane. In some areas of Ireland and Scotland, the name is pronounced locally as “Winny”.

The most widely used variant of the name outside Ireland is likely Gwinnane, which developed in England in the 19th century. In some cases, it is even taken as a first name.

In the United States, the spelling of this name has evolved slightly and can now be found as Quynnane, Gwinne, Gwinn, Gweinnane, and even Quinne.

Guinnane is also found in the spelling Guinness, the name of the famous Guinness brewery in Dublin, Ireland, as well as Gwinan, Gwin, and Gwinne.

Due to the vast popularity of this name, there are a wide range of spelling variations; however, all of them stem from the same original anglicised version of Ó Geimhneáin.

Famous people with the name Guinnane

• Stephen Guinnane, Irish historian
• Daniel Guinnane, Irish entrepreneur
• Ed Guinnane, Irish Folk Singer
• Tommy Guinnane, Irish Entrepreneur
• Paddy Guinnane, Irish Footballer
• Eamonn Guinnane, Irish Solicitor
• Lisa Guinnane, Irish Social Advocate
• Damien Guinnane, Irish Musician
• Tracy Guinnane, Irish Singer/Songwriter
• Siobhan Guinnane, Irish Film Director

Other surnames

Guinnap