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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: