McGinnes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Ireland, as an English-controlled colony in the 19th century, suffered the loss of hundreds of thousands of its native people. The system of land ownership often did not sufficiently provide for the tenants who farmed the land. This was most clearly evidenced in the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Previous years of great demand for grain products and livestock had run the land down. Many landowners foreseeing an upcoming crisis often removed families from the land or forced them to rely on pitifully small plots where only a subsistence living could be made. When the famines of 1845, 46, and 48 hit, many had nothing. Disease and starvation became widespread and families boarded ships for elsewhere any way they could. Those who went to America were instrumental in developing the industrial power known today: many Irish were employed in hard labor positions in factories and in building the bridges, canals, roads, and railways necessary for a strong industrial nation. Research of early immigration and passenger lists has shown that many bearers of the name McGinnes:

McGinnes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Paul McGinnes, who landed in Virginia in 1776 2

McGinnes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Peter McGinnes, aged 24, who arrived in America in 1822 2
• John McGinnes, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1871 2

• Clair E. McGinnes, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Allegheny County 7th District, 1926 3
• Francis "Frank" McGinnes (1870-1892), Scottish footballer, active 1889–1892