Show ContentsMcNiff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the McNiff family

The surname McNiff was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where they held a family seat as chiefs of their name. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable. This family name was found later in Leitrim.

Early History of the McNiff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McNiff research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McNiff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McNiff Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Conniff, Cunniff, Cunniffe, Conniffe, Coniff, MacNiff, MacAdoo, McAdoo, MacCunniffe, MacCuniff, MacEndo, MacEndoo, McNiff, McIndoo, MacIndoo and many more.

Early Notables of the McNiff family

More information is included under the topic Early McNiff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States McNiff migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McNiff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Philip McNiff, who arrived in New York, NY in 1828 1
  • Philip McNiff, who was naturalized in New York city in 1832
  • John McNiff, age 12, a bonded passenger, who settled in Boston in 1847

Canada McNiff migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McNiff Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James McNiff, who was recorded in Toronto, Canada in the Census of Ontario in 1871

Contemporary Notables of the name McNiff (post 1700) +

  • Audrey A. McNiff, American former Managing Director and co-head of Currency Sales at Goldman Sachs
  • Shaun McNiff, American art therapy researcher and writer
  • Thomas McNiff, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1892
  • James L. McNiff, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives from Muskegon County 2nd District, 1950
  • Martin McNiff (b. 1991), Scottish footballer from Clydebank, Scotland who plays for Dumbarton as a defender
  • Francine Valerie McNiff (1948-2015), Australian legal scholar, the first female state magistrate in Victoria, Australia, appointed Children's Court Stipendary Magistrate in August 1983


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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