Surname Ginnis - Meaning and Origin
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Ginnis: What does the surname Ginnis mean?
The last name Ginnis is of Irish origin. The name is derived from the Gaelic Ó Gionnaigh family which is from the Southwestern Connacht region in Ireland. Historians have traced the family back to the 14th century when they took part in the Norman invasion.
The Ó Gionnaigh family were an important and powerful clan in the region at the time, with a number of members filling important positions in their local parish. This made them even more influential throughout the area.
The meaning of Ginnis translates to ‘son of Gionnaigh’ and is derived from the Gaelic family name ‘Gionnaigh’ which literally translates to ‘loyal man’ or ‘beloved man’. It was also often used as a title of high esteem to describe a respected leader or chief.
Throughout the centuries, the Ginnis family has remained prominent in Ireland. They are still one of the most common surnames in the country, and the name Ginnis is still associated with honor, loyalty, and respect throughout the nation.
Whether one has the surname Ginnis or not, its history is filled with traditions and values that are important to the people of Ireland—and to the Irish culture as a whole.
Order DNA origin analysisGinnis: Where does the name Ginnis come from?
The last name Ginnis seems to originate from the Irish name Mac Aonghusa, meaning "son of Angus". Today, the last name is commonly found in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and Ireland. It is also found in various other countries including New Zealand, South Africa, India, Philippines, and Indonesia.
In the United States, the last name Ginnis can be found mostly in the south, with pockets concentrated in the states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. In the 2000 USD census, over 1000 individuals reported their last name as Ginnis.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, research shows that the last name Ginnis is less common. It is still present, however, in areas in Ulster, Connacht, and Leinster, with a few instances of the name present in east and south Munster.
In Canada, Ginnis appears mostly in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta. A 2002 report revealed that there were 343 individuals with the last name Ginnis living in these provinces.
In Australia, there were over 400 individuals of this surname in the 2006 Australian census. Most of them were living in the Greater Sydney region. The last name was also present in other major cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
No matter where individuals with the last name Ginnis are in the world today, they can rest assured that they can connect to a long line of ancestors with the same surname.
Variations of the surname Ginnis
Ginnis is an English surname with Americanized and Irish variations. Depending on the region, it can be spelled Ginis, Gennis, Ginniss, Ginnys, Ginnis, and Ginnus.
This popular name is an anglicised version of the Irish surname Guinness, which is derived from the personal name "Gionaoith," a Gaelic name meaning "god Is gracious." Many English families adopted this surname when they entered the United States.
The surname Ginnis also has roots in Scotland, as an anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Fhionghuis (son of Fionghuis). This name is usually spelled as MacGennis in Scotland.
The German and Dutch variation of the name is Ginnis, which also has different spellings including Gennes, Gennes, and Gennis.
Ginnis is also a variant of the Dutch, German, and Polish Gingolski, which is derived from the personal name "Gingolt," indicating "bold spear." It was frequently adopted by Jews in the 19th century when they moved to northwest Europe.
In India, "Ginnis" can also be found as a spelling variant of "Jainis" or "Jennis," which is a combination of the name of the Jain sect and the Indian suffix "i," which indicates "of the" or "belonging to."
Finally, Ginnis can also be a variant of the Welsh surname "Gin"(ginn) or "Gwynn" (ginnws). This Welsh name is derived from the personal name "Gwinn," which means "white" or "blessed."
Famous people with the name Ginnis
- Jenna Ginnis: Jenna is an American television personality and actress. She is best known for hosting E!’s late night talk show, “The Ginnis Factor”.
- Amanda Ginnis: Amanda is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role on the ABC sitcom “Suburgatory” and the recurring role in the Netflix series “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”.
- Mo Ginnis: Mo is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist, bassist, and songwriter of the alternative rock band Amoeba.
- Nancy Ginnis: Nancy is an American singer and actress. She is best known for her performances on “The X Factor” and “The Voice”.
- Annabelle Ginnis: Annabelle is an American journalist and television host. She is the current host of the popular shows “The Ginnis Report” and “A Night with Annabelle Ginnis”.
- Chris Ginnis: Chris is an American actor and television host. He is best known for his role in the popular USA television series “Burn Notice” and as the voice of the video game character "The Reaper" in the video game “Gears of War”.
- Derek Ginnis: Derek is an American actor and singer. He is known for his role in the popular family film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and his appearances in several Broadway plays.
- David Ginnis: David is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known for his compositions for the film “Saving Private Ryan” and the popular musical “The Producers”.
- Richard Ginnis: Richard is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in the television series “Dallas” and “Knots Landing.”
- Patrick Ginnis: Patrick is an American singer. He has released five solo albums and is best known for his contributions to the music of popular rock band Evanescence.