Surname Ginnane - Meaning and Origin
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Ginnane: What does the surname Ginnane mean?
The last name Ginnane is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic word “Giunnáin”, which means “leader” or “monarch”. The name was originally spelled in this traditional format, but has undergone various changes over time.
Ginnane is a very common Irish surname, especially across County Clare, Cork and Galway. It is likely the descendants of Giunnáin were lords and chieftains of some of these areas. The name is still very much alive in parts of Ireland today.
In the United States, Ginnane is often spelled with different variations such as Gennane, Gennain, Ginnain, Ginnene, Ginnane, Ginnen, Genin, Gennin, Gnan, and Jinan. It is most noteworthy for being associated with the famous singer Johnny Ginnane, also known as "The Singing Banker".
The Ginnane family is a proud one, with a long history of leading and serving their local communities. It is no surprise that some of them may have even become known as “monarchs”, a title of great respect and honour within their family. Today, the Ginnane name is still widely recognised and appreciated.
Order DNA origin analysisGinnane: Where does the name Ginnane come from?
The last name Ginnane is most commonly found today in Ireland and Australia. In Ireland, it is most commonly found in County Tipperary and the surrounding counties of Limerick, Waterford, and Kilkenny. In Australia, it is found in the state of Victoria, where the surname originated in the 19th century with a wave of Irish immigrants.
The history of the surname Ginnane in Ireland dates back to the 12th century. It is an anglicised version of the Irish name "O Giobuin," which is derived from the personal name Giobuing. The family is believed to have emerged as a sept of the Ui Mael Sechlainn, a powerful Irish clan in the Kingship of Mide, the ancient Kingdom of Meath.
By the 19th century, the Ginnanes were one of the largest landowners in County Tipperary. As the potato famine decimated families in Ireland in the 1840s, plenty of families emigrated and many Ginnanes left for Australia. Today, one can find the last name Ginnane in areas of Ireland where it was historically present, and in Australia where its descendants have made their mark in business, education, and politics.
Variations of the surname Ginnane
Ginnane is an Irish patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Gíobhanaigh meaning "someone descendant of the follower of St. John". This surname was first found in Limerick and its spelling variations include Ginnane, Ginnan, Ginnin, Ginnen, Ginnyn, Ginnayne, Ginnayn, Ginnen, Ginnayn, and McGinna.
In Ireland, locals often seemed to associate the Ginnane family with the O'Fearghail clan of Kilkenny and offshoot families of Mayo and Antrim, who dropped the O' or Mc prefixes, leaving them with spelling variations of Ginnane or Ginnan.
In the United States, the Ginnane spelling was changed to McGinnis and occasionally to McGuinn. Other derived spellings include Guinney, Ginnan, Ginnane, Ginneen, Gienan, Gienen, Gienon, Gionan, Gicton and Gition.
In the UK, the Ginnane surname is most likely of Irish origin, with the most common spelling being McGinnis. In Australia, the spelling was often recorded as McGinnis, Gienalt, Gionnon and Gicton.
The Ginnane name was often shortened to Ginn and occasionally to McGinn and /or McGuinn. Some members of the Ginnane family adopted the surname McGinnen, which is an Anglicized version of Mac Giobhanaigh.
Variants of the Ginnane name also include the Irish variations Gienane, Gienaney and McGinney.
In Ireland, the surname is still fairly commonly found. Internationally, the name is most popular in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Ginnane
- Maureen Ginnane: Australian actress who has appeared in a range of commercials, as well as television and stage productions.
- John Ginnane: Former president of Town Sports International, owner of such fitness companies as the Bally Total Fitness, New York Sports Clubs, Washington Sports Club, and Boston Sports Clubs.
- Paul Ginnane: Former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the VFL/AFL from 1983 to 1990.
- Don Ginnane: American businessman who founded several construction and engineering companies in California in the 1980s.
- Simon Ginnane: Australian rules football coach who played seven years at West Adelaide Football Club. He is currently the coach of the South Adelaide Football Club.
- Molly Ginnane: Australian actress and model who has appeared in television series, commercials, and films including Love Me Still, How to Talk Australian, and High Noon.
- Mark Ginnane: Australian politician who is currently member for the electoral district of Shepparton in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.
- Nick Ginnane: British journalist and editor with a background in sport, entertainment and lifestyle writing. He was the editor of the Scottish newspaper The Herald.
- Suzy Ginnane: Australian actress who has appeared in television series such as Wonderland and Offspring, as well as films including Dead Love and Get the Fish.
- Sean Ginnane: Australian rules football player who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League from 2008 to 2012.