Show ContentsMcGinley Surname History

The McGinley surname comes from the Irish Gaelic "Mag Fhionnghaile," which means "son of the fair hero."

Early Origins of the McGinley family

The surname McGinley was first found in Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel, where MacGinley families had long been found in Drumholm. There is a record in the Genealogical Office in Dublin of a grant of land to Andrew Ginley of Ratoath, County Meath in 1636.

Early History of the McGinley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGinley research. More information is included under the topic Early McGinley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGinley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacGinley, McGinley, McGinly, MacGinly, Ginnell, MacGinnelley and many more.

Early Notables of the McGinley family

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

McGinley Ranking

In the United States, the name McGinley is the 5,947th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States McGinley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McGinley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Bryan McGinley, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 2
McGinley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael McGinley, aged 22, who arrived in New Jersey in 1812 2
  • William McGinley, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1843 2
  • John McGinley, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1849 2
  • Patrick McGinley, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1850 2
  • Andrew McGinley, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 2

Canada McGinley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McGinley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Charles McGinley U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 3
  • Mr. Hugh McGinley U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 3
McGinley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • David McGinley, aged 30, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
  • Ann McGinley, aged 36, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
  • Eliza Jane McGinley, aged 4, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
  • Ann McGinley, aged 2, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
  • Elenor McGinley, aged 6 months, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia McGinley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McGinley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Edward McGinley, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
  • John McGinley, aged 26, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sea Park" 5

Contemporary Notables of the name McGinley (post 1700) +

  • Major-General Eugene McGinley (1900-1972), American Commanding Officer Frankfurt Military Post (1949) 6
  • Ryan McGinley (b. 1977), American photographer named Photographer of the Year in 2003 by American Photo Magazine
  • Theodore Martin "Ted" McGinley (b. 1957), American actor
  • John Christopher McGinley (b. 1959), American actor, director and producer
  • Phyllis McGinley (1905-1978), American poet awarded the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
  • John McGinley, American Republican politician, Postmaster at New London, Connecticut, 1898-1915 7
  • James S. McGinley, American Republican politician, Candidate for burgess of Millvale, Pennsylvania, 1933 7
  • James G. McGinley, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly, 1964, 1965 7
  • Donald Francis McGinley (1920-2005), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Nebraska 4th District, 1959-61; Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska, 1983 7
  • Daniel E. McGinley, American politician, U.S. Consul in Athens, 1898-1904 7
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Patrick Vincent Mcginley, American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 8


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
  5. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SEA PARK 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/seapark1852.shtml
  6. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2013, February 12) Eugene McGinley. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/McGinley/Eugene/USA.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


Houseofnames.com on Facebook