McGinnis
An Irish surname meaning “son of Angus” or, in some older explanations, linked to a clan or race-name.
The #1,303 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 11,455 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The strongest historical explanation treats McGinnis as a form of Irish Mac Aonghusa, meaning “son of Aonghus” (Angus). One 19th-century source also proposed a looser Gaelic explanation connecting it with words for a clan or race, but that analysis is less widely accepted. In practice, the surname is usually grouped with the Mac Aonghusa/McGuinness family of names.
History
The name is most closely associated with Ireland, especially Ulster, where Mac Aonghusa was long established. In English spelling it appears in several forms, including MacGinness, MacGinnis, and McGuinness. Over time, Anglicized spellings varied widely as Gaelic names were recorded phonetically by English-speaking clerks.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Many Irish surnames that begin with Mac were standardized into different English spellings, so McGinnis and McGuinness can reflect the same Gaelic family name.
From the historical record
“MAC GINNES MAC GINNESS MACGINNIS Magee, q.v. (Celt.) Son of Angus, q.v. [Ir. Mac Aenghusa, genit. of Aengus]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)