Surname O'Guiney - Meaning and Origin
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O'Guiney: What does the surname O'Guiney mean?
The last name O'Guiney is an Irish Gaelic surname which has its roots in the ancient Gaelic sept of Uí G potentagh, also known as Uí Dhubhain. This sept were part of the larger Uí Fiachrach group of the western province of Connacht. Their name translates as ‘descendant of Guiney’, with the personal name ‘Guiney’ originating from the Old Irish name ‘foghuine’, meaning ‘shepherd’ or ‘lover of flocks’.
The O'Guiney sept were located mainly in what is now Co Mayo, with the head of the family being the chieftain of Killala until the 15th century. Their original castle ruins can still be seen in the area today. The O'Guineys held a lot of power and influence within the Province and were one of the few families to remain loyal to their traditional Gaelic Gaelic heritage.
The clan became dispersed however during the Elizabethan Conquest and following plantations. Many of them moved to other parts of Mayo and into the neighbouring counties, while also emigrating to America in later centuries. The surname O'Guiney can now be found in Ireland, the UK and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Guiney: Where does the name O'Guiney come from?
The last name O'Guiney is an ancient Irish name that remains in modern use today. It is most common in Ireland, and particularly in the province of Connacht, where the surname originates. According to Irish genealogy records, the O'Guiney clan first migrated to the Connacht area in the 12th century. Most descendants of the O'Guiney family are believed to be located in the region, with population centers such as Tuam, Athenry, and Moylough having some of the highest densities of people with this surname.
O'Guiney is also found in significant numbers in other parts of Ireland, particularly the Munster provinces of Cork, Kerry, and Clare. Records indicate that extended branches of the O'Guiney family left Connacht in the 17th and 18th centuries and settled in these areas. The diaspora of Irish immigrants to North America and other parts of the world has taken the surname even further afield. For instance, in the United States, the name is especially common in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California.
O'Guineys can also be found in significant numbers in Britain, Canada, and other parts of the world where Irish immigrants settled during the 19th and 20th centuries. As such, despite its ancient Connacht roots, the O'Guiney surname is now found around the world, stemming from families that have proudly carried it through centuries of history.
Variations of the surname O'Guiney
The surname O'Guiney has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. O’Guiney can also be spelled O’Giney, O'Ginn, O'Geaney, O'Geeane, O'Guinee, O'Ginley, O'Giuney, O'Guinney, O'Ginney, O'Guinn, O'Guiney, and O'Gunn.
The variants of O'Guiney can be traced back to the 10th century, when the Uí Fidgeinti were a tribal group living in the western part of County Tipperary in Ireland. The Uí Fidgeinti were a sept of the Corcu Loígde, which was a powerful Irish clan in prehistoric times. Their name is derived from the Gaelic Ó Géibheannaigh, meaning "descendant of Géibheannach.”
The earliest recorded name for the surname O'Guiney is O'Geeane, which appears on an old charter from the 14th century. This document mentions a nobleman bearing the name O'Geeane, who was granted lands in Tipperary.
Variants of O'Guiney can also be found in modern-day Scotland, where the name has been adapted as Gunn and Guinney, along with the Scottish spelling variant Gwynney.
The O'Guiney surname can also be found in Australia, where it has been adapted to the spelling Ogunney. There is also mention of the spelling O'Ginn in literary works written by James Clarence Mangan in the 19th century.
In conclusion, the surname O'Guiney has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants can be traced back to the 10th century and can now be found all around the world, adapted in different spellings and dialects over time.
Famous people with the name O'Guiney
- John O'Guiney: Irish hurler and football player
- Stephen O'Guiney: Australian rules footballer
- Eamon O'Guiney: Irish entrepreneur and venture capitalist
- Mary Jane O'Guiney: American actress, singer, and dancer
- Paddy O'Guiney: Irish sports journalist
- Ben O'Guiney: American actor and director
- Anna O'Guiney: Irish sports statistician
- Linda O'Guiney: Irish television and radio presenter
- Kevin O'Guiney: American college basketball player
- Robert O'Guiney: Canadian rower