McGuiness History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
While many of Irish names are quite familiar to most, their original Gaelic forms are often forgotten and mysterious. The original Gaelic form of the name McGuiness is Mag Aonghusa or Mag Aonghuis, which mean "son of Angus." 1
Early Origins of the McGuiness family
The surname McGuiness was first found in County Down (Irish:An Dún) part of the Province of Ulster, in Northern Ireland, formerly known as county St Mirren, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
Early History of the McGuiness family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGuiness research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1539, 1543, 1584, 1640, 1703, 1759, 1797, 1798 and 1868 are included under the topic Early McGuiness History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McGuiness Spelling Variations
Many different spelling variations of the surname McGuiness exist in the archives researched. Ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. Different spellings that were found include Genis, Guinness, Magennis, Guinnessy, McGuinness and many more.
Early Notables of the McGuiness family
Prominent amongst the family at this time was Hugo Magennis (d. 1640) who was the Franciscan Bishop of Down and Connor; the second Viscount Iveagh, Brian Magennis who was killed in action in 1703; Richard and Richard the...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McGuiness Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McGuiness migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
McGuiness Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Miss Catherine Mcguiness, (b. 1799), aged 30, Irish house maid who was convicted in Londonderry, Ireland for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1831 2
- Mr. Edward McGuiness, English convict who was convicted in Manchester, England for 6 years, transported aboard the "Clara" on 28th January 1864, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 3
McGuiness migration to New Zealand +
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:
McGuiness Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. Stephen Mcguiness, British settler arriving as the 1st detachment of Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 4
- Cornelius McGuiness, aged 59, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874
- Micheal McGuiness, aged 22, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874
- James McGuiness, aged 33, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874
- Thomas McGuiness, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blairgowrie" in 1875
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name McGuiness (post 1700) +
- Christopher Ryan McGuiness (b. 1988), American Major League Baseball first baseman
- William R. McGuiness (b. 1946), American jurist, Administrative Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal
- P. F. McGuiness, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Torrington, 1920 5
- James J. McGuiness, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Albany County 2nd District, 1951-56 5
- Edwin D. McGuiness, American politician, Secretary of State of Rhode Island, 1887-88, 1890-91 5
Historic Events for the McGuiness family +
- Mr. Bernard Mcguiness, English Trimmer from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 6
Citations +