Ginley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The age-old Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the Ginley family. Their name comes from the personal name Finlay. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Fionnlaigh, which means son of Finlay. Thus, Ginley is a cognate of the surname Finlayson.

Early Origins of the Ginley family

The surname Ginley was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where the surname is still commonly found around Glenlyon and Balquhidder. The earliest known record of the name is from 1493, when Gillaspyk M'Kynlay witnessed legal proceedings involving Archibald, Earl of Argyll.

Early History of the Ginley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ginley research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1511, 1675, and 1700 are included under the topic Early Ginley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ginley Spelling Variations

Medieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Ginley has been spelled MacKinley, MacKinlay, MacKindlay, MacKinly, MacKindley and many more.

Early Notables of the Ginley family (pre 1700)

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ginley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ginley family to Ireland

Some of the Ginley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ginley migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Ginleys to arrive on North American shores:

Ginley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Corn Ginley, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [1]
Terry Ginley, who arrived in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 [1]
James Ginley, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 [1]
Peter Ginley, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 [1]
Barney Ginley, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 [1]

Ginley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ginley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Ginley, aged 12 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Pursuit" departing 4th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 23rd June 1847 but he died on board [2]

The Ginley Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Amo
Motto Translation: I love.

Citations +

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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 77)