McGinty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the McGinty family relocated to North American shores quite early:

McGinty Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• John McGinty, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 3
• Francis McGinty, who landed in Indiana in 1852 3
• Hugh McGinty, aged 38, who arrived in New York in 1854 3
• Bernard, Charles, Daniel, Edward, George, James, John, Matthew, Michael, Owen, Patrick, Samuel, Thomas, and Timothy McGinty who, who settled in Philadelphia between 1846 and 1866
• Owen McGinty, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 3

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McGinty Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Margaret McGinty, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1834

McGinty Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr.Austin Mcginty, (McGurty), (b. 1791), aged 28, Irish tailor who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 14 years for uttering forged notes, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn" 4
• Mr. Anthony Mcginty, (b. 1819), aged 29, Scottish cotton spinner who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 1st January 1850, arriving in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 5

• Ian McGinty (1985-2023), American comic book writer and artist, best known for his creator-owned comic Welcome to Showside
• Mick McGinty (d. 2021), American artist who created artwork for Street Fighter II and other video games
• Kathleen Alana "Katie" McGinty, American environmentalist and politician, Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection (2003-2008), Chairperson of the Council on Environmental Quality (1995-1998)
• Garnie William McGinty (1900-1984), American historian for thirty-five years at Louisiana Tech University
• Franklin Alexander McGinty, American recipient of the Navy Cross, eponym of the USS McGinty (DE-365)
• Joe McGinty, American composer, keyboardist and arranger, best known for his work with The Psychedelic Furs
• Captain John James McGinty III (1940-2014), United States Marine Corps officer, awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism
• William M. "Billy" McGinty (1871-1961), Oklahoma bronco buster
• Vincent James McGinty, American Civil Engineer, Board of Directors, Utica Industrial Development Corp., New Hartford, New York
• Selva E. McGinty, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Marine Corps, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
• ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)