Surname O'Ginn - Meaning and Origin

O'Ginn: What does the surname O'Ginn mean?

The last name O’Ginn is an Irish name with roots in the old Irish language and Gaelic tradition. The name is derived from the Gaelic prefix "O’" which usually indicates a person of noble origin. The last name O’Ginn is found across the Irish mainland and is most commonly spelled O’Ginne or O’Ginn.

The most prolific clan associated with the O’Ginn name is the O'Ginne of County Clare. The O’Ginne family established themselves in Corofin in the 17th century and became one of the first established clans in the area. They were very active in community life and held a significant place in the area’s history for centuries.

The O’Ginn name is also connected with another notable family. The O’Ginn’s of Kildare have a long history dating back to the 12th century. Some believe this branch of the O’Ginns were related to the O’Conor dynasty.

The meaning behind the the name ‘O’Ginn’ is roughly translated to mean ‘son of fair-haired’. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic root words ‘O’Ginneach’ which translates to ‘fair-haired’. The O’Ginn name is therefore connected to a certain type of freelander who was recognized for his fair hair.

In modern times, the O’Ginn surname is still a popular choice across many parts of Ireland, with bearers of the name found in every province. It is also common to see the O’Ginn name outside of Ireland, particularly in the United Kingdom and United States.

O'Ginn: Where does the name O'Ginn come from?

The last name O'Ginn is most common in Ireland and other parts of the British Isles. This is due to the fact that the name is a patronymic derived from the Irish Gaelic "O'Giollain", meaning "son of Giollain". The "Giollain" name is often Anglicized as Ginn, Ginns, Ginnett, G infantry and so on.

In Ireland, O'Ginn is most common in counties Dublin, Kildare, and Galway, but is also found throughout the island. During the great Irish emigrations of the 19th and early 20th centuries, many Irish people bearing the name O'Ginn left for the United States, Canada, and other parts of the British Commonwealth, spreading the name to wider shores.

In the United States, O'Ginn is among the top 5,000 most commonly occurring last names. It is most common in Texas, followed by California, New York, Florida, and Massachusetts.

The name is also found in Scotland, England, Wales, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In these countries, the name is most likely to be found among those of Irish ancestry.

Given the name's Celtic origins, O'Ginn is also occasionally seen among those of recent Welsh and Scottish descent, particularly in the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname O'Ginn

The surname O'Ginn is derived from the old Gaelic name Mac Giollagain, which can be spelled in many different ways such as MacGillagain, MacGilligan, MacGillgaine, as well as O'Gillagain. O’Gillagain is the anglicized version of the surname.

Variants of the name O'Ginn include Ginn, Guin, Gyn, Gyngin, Gine, Gineau, Guenegnec, Guinot, Ginnet, Guinnett, and Gynne. These spelling variants originated in Scotland, Ireland, and Brittany, and are common throughout the English-speaking countries.

The many spellings and variants of the surname O'Ginn can all be traced back to the original root, Mac Giollagain. The use of an apostrophe before the ‘G’ is a frequent but not consistent feature in some places, as this change was due to a phonetic adaptation of the name and a shift in spelling conventions.

Common alternative surnames and spellings of the surname O'Ginn include Guinnane, Gyngell, Gini, Gionet, Guinand, Guinegret, Gingues, Gino, Ginneau, Guinard, Gion, Guinette, and Ginnyng. These variants of the name are fairly rare, but are still found in records and documents from different countries.

As the surname O'Ginn is of Gaelic origin, it is also common to find variants orthographically derived from the language. These variants include Magin, Mc Gin, Ginney, McGing, Gigin, McGign, Gigny, Giney, Gigny, Guinney, and McGynney. These versions of the surname are found predominantly in Ireland and Scotland, as well as amongst Irish and Scottish immigrants around the world.

Famous people with the name O'Ginn

• Lloyd O'Ginn: an actor who has worked on numerous TV shows and films, including "The Tony Danza Show," "Law & Order," and "I Am Legend"
• Sean O'Ginn: a recording engineer for the band U2 and David Bowie
• Michael O'Ginn: a British actor who has appeared in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and "Happy Valley"
• Jimmy O'Ginn: an Irish musician who is the vocalist for the rock band The Rebels
• Aidan O'Ginn: an Irish actor who is best known for his roles in "Love/Hate" and "Vikings"
• Charlie O'Ginn: an American actor who has appeared in films such as "Toy Story 3" and "Bridesmaids"
• Owen O'Ginn: an Irish poet and literary critic
• Sally O'Ginn: a playwright whose works have been produced throughout the United States and Europe
• Damien O'Ginn: a professional footballer who plays for the English side Bournemouth F.C.
• Maria O'Ginn: an Irish folk singer who has released several albums and performed around the world

Other surnames

O'Gin