Kinnish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Kinnish

The name Kinnish has seen many modifications since the time in which it was first devised. In Gaelic it appeared as Mag Aonghusa or Mag Aonghuis. Both of these mean son of Angus.

Early Origins of the Kinnish family

Early History of the Kinnish family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kinnish research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kinnish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kinnish Spelling Variations

Ireland in the Middle Ages was inhabited by very few literate people. Therefore, the proper spelling of names was decided by a very select few. The surviving records for the time demonstrate that these scribes were often not consistent in their efforts for there are many spelling variations of certain common names. Some of the variations for the name Kinnish include Kinch, Kinnish, Kennish, MacInesh, MacInch, McInch, MacKinch, McKinch and many more.

Early Notables of the Kinnish family

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

Migration of the Kinnish family

Many Irish families did not fare so well within the English-ruled Ireland. Besides racial and religious discrimination, many families were renting out small tracts of farmland from absentee landowners at often unreasonable rates. Beginning in the late 18th century, moderately well off Irish families decided to emigrate to British North America or the United States in order to own their own plot of land. A radical change occurred in the 1840s, however, with the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Up to this point, the island's population had been increasing rapidly and a steady demand over the years for grain crops had depleted soil. Two failed crops and one poor one caused widespread disease and starvation. Thousands boarded ships looking for opportunities elsewhere. North America welcomed them as a source of cheap labor required for the many industrial and infrastructure projects underway, and as a means to quickly occupy the western regions. Research into immigration and passenger ship lists indicates that people bearing the name Kinnish were among the earliest settlers to arrive in North America: James and Thomas Kinch who settled with their families in New York State in 1811; another James Kinch arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1838; L. Kinch arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1850..