Surname Guinne - Meaning and Origin
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Guinne: What does the surname Guinne mean?
The last name Guinne is of French origin and is derived from the Old French male personal name Guinne. It gained popularity after the Norman Conquest and was popular across many regions of France. The name Guinne comes from two elements, which are "Gui" or "Wid" and "ne", which were used to mean "son".
The spelling of the name was varied between the medieval times and the 19th century, although Guinne was consistently the most popular spelling. As the name spread through France, so did it's variations, such as Guine, Gwinne, Gwin, Guin and Gwinns.
Today, the name Guinne is most commonly associated with a French-Canadian family based in Quebec, although it is common in other countries too, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland and United States. The Guinne family is widely dispersed, coming from different walks of life. Many of them have become successful in professions such as politics, business, science and the arts.
The surname Guinne is a proud and ancient name, with a long, illustrious and unique history. It is believed that it was created to honour an ancestor – as a way to keep alive the memory of a great individual in the blood family. From that ancestor came a long lasting legacy – a lasting symbol of pride, love, and dedication to one’s family and their tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisGuinne: Where does the name Guinne come from?
The last name Guinne is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland today. It is believed to be of Irish descent and is derived from the Irish Gaelic "O Gionai" or "O Goinne". It is also believed that it was a reference to an ancestor of the Guinne's who joined forces with the Normans as they invaded Ireland during the twelfth century.
In the UK, the last name Guinne has its highest concentration in Scotland, where an estimated 915 people carry this surname. In England, it is much less common, with only 631 people bearing this name in the 2011 census. In Wales, there are only 184 people with the last name. The coastal county of Pembrokeshire, Wales is believed to have been the original home of the Guinne's.
In both Ireland and Northern Ireland, it is the 74th-most common name, with an estimated 716 people in the Republic of Ireland and 517 in Northern Ireland. The Irish River Barrow Region is believed to be the original home of the Guinne surname. It is thought that the Guinne's most likely moved to Scotland and England when the Normans invaded Ireland. In the United States, it is estimated that 1,200 people carry this surname.
Ultimately, the last name Guinne is most commonly found in the UK and Ireland today. And, while it is not an overly common name, it is still widely spread throughout these countries. However, with its Irish roots, it is evident that the Guinne surname has a long and colourful history.
Variations of the surname Guinne
The surname Guinne is believed to have a French origin, likely derived from the Old French given name Guinand. Variants of Guinne include Guinand, Guyne, Guinea, Geyne, Guinee, Guine, Guin, Gaine, Gein, Geinne, and Guynne.
The earliest documented use of the surname in England dates back to the 12th century in reference to Albert Guinnes, who appears in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire in the year 1194. Over the centuries, the surname spread across Europe as families moved and new combinations of the name evolved.
In Ireland, the names Guinne, Geyne, and Guin are all anglicizations of the Olde Irish Gaelic given name, Ó Geanain. During the Norman invasion of Ireland, many families who maintained Irish Gaelic names were forced to anglicize their names due to the influence of the English language and culture.
In the United States, the surname was likely spelled differently due to its arrival through immigration and its subsequent adaptation by different languages and cultures. Among the variants of the surname that can be found in the United States are Geanin, Gin, Guiney, Giny, Gyny, Guinea, Guin, and Guyn.
Further variations of the surname are found in other countries of the world, particularly in countries with French, German, and Spanish-speaking populations. Guinny in Spain, Guinné in France, and Günin in Germany are all variants of the same surname.
The spellings of Guinne and its variants vary throughout countries and cultures and are ultimately subject to the decisions of each family who records the surname in official records.
Famous people with the name Guinne
- Dwyane Wade: This renowned NBA basketball player who has won three championships with the Miami Heat was born Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. His middle name, Tyrone, is an homage to his mother's maiden name, which is Guinne.
- Clarence Thomas: This United States Supreme Court Justice was born Clarence Thomas Guinne in 1948 in Georgia. He is the second African-American to ever serve on the Supreme Court.
- Kid Rock: Born and raised in Detroit, this singer is real name is Robert James Ritchie, although his middle name is Guinne in homage to his mother's maiden name.
- Josh Duhamel: This former Las Vegas actor is the son of Bonnie L. Kemper, a public employee, and Larry Duhamel, an advertisement salesman, and he carries his mother's maiden name, Guinne, as his middle name.
- Joe Guinne: The only person on this list with Guinne as a last name is the former head golf professional from St. Austell Golf Club in Cornwall, England.