Surname Guinessey - Meaning and Origin

Guinessey: What does the surname Guinessey mean?

The last name Guinessey is of Irish descent and is derived from the personal byname "Giolla Íosa" or "servant of Jesus." This is an Anglicized version of an original Gaelic name, and roughly translates to English as Kilfosis. Most likely originally from County Meath or Cavan, the surname is still most commonly found in these regions.

The origin of the name provides interesting insight into the beliefs and cultural norms of the family's ancestors. The personal byname implies devotion to Christianity and its teachings, such as humility before Jesus, a feature which may have been highly cherished by the family's predecessors.

It is also important to note that the name has a strong association with the Irish nation and symbolizes the family's dedication to the preservation of their culture. Indeed, the suffix ‘-ey’ found in the spelling of the name is a distinct indicator that the family can trace their roots to Ireland.

Today, Guinessey is a common Irish surname that is still strongly associated with Irish nationality. It is a reminder of the devotion and dedication of the family's ancestors, and displays a commitment to preserving the cultural values and traditions of the Irish people.

Guinessey: Where does the name Guinessey come from?

The surname Guinessey is quite uncommon today. It originates from a village in the south-west of France, located in the province of Poitou-Charentes, near the city of La Rochelle.

The name “Guinessey” likely originates from the French “L’isle Ginhoise”, referring to the nearby island off the Atlantic coast of France. It is believed that the island became a refuge for a few families in 1780, who took the name of the island as their family name.

Today, the surname Guinessey can be found primarily in areas of France such as the Poitou-Charentes, as well as some parts of Canada, Louisiana, and Argentina. In the United States, it is far less common. It is possible, however, to find a few hundred locals with this surname in Florida, California, and New York.

Most of the people who bear the surname Guinessey today are descendants of the original families that took the name in the 1780s. As there is not much of a population of people bearing this surname, people tend to remain together and keep in touch, many of them staying not too far away from the original village of L’isle Ginhoise.

Variations of the surname Guinessey

The surname Guinessey has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants include Guynessy, Ginessey, Gignessey, Gennessey, Guinessy, Ginnissey, Ginnessy, Gennissay, and Gennessy. It is an anglicized spelling of the Celtic name Mac Guinessaigh.

The surname is possibly derived from the name of a local tribe or clan known as the Ui Guinessaigh, which is broadly believed to have originated in County Down, Ireland. It is also believed that the family may have originated in Scotland, but moved to Ireland in the 17th century.

The Mac Guinessaigh family are of the Irish Sept known as the O'Neill, the royal family of Ulster, Ireland. It is probable that these families originated from Scotland prior to migrating to Ireland.

Other variants of the surname include Guiness, Gennessey, Guinnessy, MacGinnis, Ginniss, Gennessey, MacGinnisfarey, and Ginessey. There have also been instances of the surname being spelled as Guinnessey and Gennessay.

The surname is quite common in County Down, and to a lesser extent in County Louth and Monaghan, all of which are located in the Republic of Ireland. In Scotland, the surname is rather rare, and is mostly found in forbears of Irish descent who have emigrated to Scotland from Northern Ireland.

In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the north eastern states, and in particular New England and New York. In addition, there is a noticeable presence of the surname in Texas, due to the many Irish settlers who moved to the area during the 19th century.

In Australia, the surname is commonly found around Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne, mostly as a result of the influx of Irish settlers during the 19th century.

Famous people with the name Guinessey

• Daniel Guinessey: American actor and radio DJ known for his roles in The Cobra Files and FLBS
• George Guinessey: former Chief Electrical Engineer for the New York Public Service Commission
• Chuck Guinessey: actor and a CEO of the Guinessey Group, a media production and distribution company
• Steven Guinessey: Visual Effects Supervisor and Animation Director who is known for his work in the films "Jurassic World," "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" and "Godzilla"
• Robert Guinessey: CEO of the Guinessey Group and Guinessey Productions, a production company that produces non-fiction documentaries
• Paige Guinessey: actress who starred in "Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase"
• Dean Guinessey: Vice President of Encryption and Security Engineering at Qualys, Inc, an IT security company
• Niki Guinessey: actress and stage performer known for her roles in productions such as Pippin and Les Miserables
• Victoria Guinessey: Broadcast Producer for National Public Radio
• Reggie Guinessey: former Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Social Security Works, an organization that advocates for expansion of Social Security benefits

Other surnames

Guiness