Surname O'Guinness - Meaning and Origin

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

The Irish surname O'Guinness is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Gionnais, derived from the pronunciation of the particular branch name of the Gionnais people. This group was primarily located in Tír Chonaill in County Donegal, where the Ó Gionnais family was originally seated from very ancient times.

The O’Guinness surname is derived from a personal name, Giolla Fionnghuala, meaning "servant of (the church of) St. Fionnghuala." Fionnghuala was an eighth century Christian who in the Annals of the Four Masters was said to have come to Ireland as a missionary from Scotland.

The O'Guinness surname is also believed to stem from the Irish words guin, meaning "fair," and eas, meaning "courage." Combined, they suggest "fair-minded courage," which is an appropriate representaion of the characteristic of members of this Clan.

The O'Guinness surname has spread far and wide, to the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, as well as elsewhere in the world. Wherever the descendants of this surname are found, they can trace their Irish heritage back to County Donegal and the Gionnais people. Throughout centuries, the O'Guinness have remained closely associated with County Donegal. The descendants will forever be proud of their Irish heritage and the powerful draw of their homeland.

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

The last name O'Guinness is a common Irish surname, originating from the Irish first name Aongus or the anglicised version Angus. The surname is often thought to have been a sept of the great Uí Néill dynasty, descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, a 5th century High King of Ireland.

Today, the surname O'Guinness is most commonly found in the Irish counties of Cork and Antrim in the south and north of Ireland, respectively. It's popularity is also seen in Northern Ireland, where it is the 30th most common surname in the country. The surname dates back to the 7th century, having been passed down through generations of Irish families.

Outside the island of Ireland, the surname can be found in the United States, Canada, England, Australia and other countries of Irish diaspora. It is still quite rare, however, thought to be in fewer than 60,000 people. In the United States, the last name O'Guinness is most prevalent in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois and California.

In recent years, there has been some scholarly debate as to the origin of the surname O'Guinness, as old records can be confusing and contradictory. Not much is known about the origins of the name beyond the fact that it is of Irish origin and has been popular in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for many centuries.

Variations of the surname O'Guinness

The surname O'Guinness is thought to be of Irish origin and derives from the Gaelic “O’Eiggneis”, meaning descendant of Eigneachán. It is a variant of the more common O'Ginnis or O'Guinnes which has also been spelled as Guinness, Ginnis, Ginnes, Ginnas, Gines, and Ginniss.

Variant spellings can occur due to the various spellings of Gaelic names, the transliteration of the name from written documents, and different interpretations of the sounds associated with the spelling of the name. In certain geographic areas of Ireland the surname O'Guinness may also be spelled as O'Ginnes, O'Guinnes, O'Ginnas, O'Gines, O'Ginniss or even O'Guiness. Additionally, some of these variants may be more common in some counties, than others.

Many members of the O'Guinness family may have adopted different surnames in order to blend in to their new communities around the world during the Irish diaspora of the 19th and 20th centuries. Thus some members of the O'Guinness family may have adopted alternate surnames such as O'Ginnis, Ginnis, Guinness, Ginnes, Ginnas, Gines, or Ginniss.

The spelling of the surname O'Guinness may also differ slightly depending on dialect or whether the surname is used to identify an individual, a family, or a clan. For example, a family or clan may use O'Guinness, while an individual may use Ginnis, Guinness, Ginnes, Ginnas, Gines, or Ginniss.

Although the variations of this surname may differ greatly, it can be traced back to its Gaelic roots and the original spelling of O’Eiggneis.

Famous people with the name O'Guinness

• Alistair O'Guinness: English film director and screenwriter
• Emer O'Guinness: Artist and Writer
• Éamonn O'Gúnaill: Irish Gaelic footballer
• James O'Guinness: British Actor
• Joe O'Guinness: Irish Playwright
• John O'Guinness: Irish Film Director
• Sebastian O'Guinness: Irish Poet and Novelist
• Shane O'Guinness: Irish Singer and Actor
• Siobhan O'Guinness: Irish Actress
• Tom O'Guinness: English Actor and Director
• Conleth O'Guinness: Actor and Voice Actor
• David O'Guinness: Irish Journalist and Broadcaster
• Hugh O'Guiness: Irish Politician
• Kevin O'Guinness: Irish Footballer
• Noel O'Guinness: Former Irish Politician
• Patrick O'Guinness: Artist
• Richard O'Guiness: Irish Actor and Musician
• Ross O'Guinness: Irish Pirate
• Trevor O'Guinness: English Actor
• Adrian O’Guinness: Irish Record Producer.

Other surnames

O'Guinn