NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcginnity

Son of the descendant of a fair-haired person of the Gaelic race.

In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Mcginnity surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 165, ranked #22,234, up from #29,646 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Govanhill East and Aikenhead, Sefton and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcginnity is 177 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 489.3%.

1881 census count

28

Ranked #29,646

Modern count

165

2016, ranked #22,234

Peak year

2010

177 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcginnity had 28 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016, ranked #22,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 55 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mcginnity surname distribution map

The map shows where the Mcginnity surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Mcginnity surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcginnity over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 4 #32,658
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 28 #29,646
1891 historical 30 #31,889
1901 historical 31 #30,616
1911 historical 55 #27,313
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 164 #20,621
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 156 #20,974
2002 modern 156 #21,348
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 158 #21,077
2005 modern 153 #21,490
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 157 #21,546
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 177 #21,034
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 162 #22,624
2015 modern 165 #22,241
2016 modern 165 #22,234

Geography

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Where Mcginnitys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Govanhill East and Aikenhead, Sefton, South Oxfordshire, Liberton East and Birmingham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Govanhill East and Aikenhead Glasgow City
2 Sefton 038 Sefton
3 South Oxfordshire 006 South Oxfordshire
4 Liberton East City of Edinburgh
5 Birmingham 079 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcginnity

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mcginnity surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcginnity

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcginnity, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mcginnity surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mcginnity household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mcginnity is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcginnity is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcginnity falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcginnity is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcginnity, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcginnity

The surname McGinnity originated in Ireland, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Ionndaigh," which means "son of Ionndaidh." The prefix "Mac" is a common element in many Irish surnames, signifying "son of."

McGinnity is believed to have derived from the Irish personal name "Ionndaidh," which itself may have originated from the Old Norse name "Ingjaldr." This name was brought to Ireland during the Viking invasions and settlements in the 9th and 10th centuries.

The earliest recorded instance of the name McGinnity can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, dated around 1181, a person named "Gilla Muinnelach Mac Ginnity" is mentioned.

In the 16th century, the McGinnity surname was particularly prevalent in County Donegal, located in the northwest of Ireland. The name is also associated with the Gaelic-speaking regions of County Tyrone and County Londonderry.

One of the earliest known bearers of the McGinnity surname was Phelim McGinnity, who lived in County Donegal in the late 16th century. He was a member of the powerful O'Donnell clan and played a role in the Nine Years' War against English rule.

Another notable figure was Brian McGinnity, a prominent Irish scholar and poet who lived in the 17th century. He was highly respected for his work in preserving the Irish language and cultural traditions.

In the 19th century, John McGinnity (1819-1895) was a prominent Irish-American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly. He was actively involved in the Irish independence movement and advocated for the rights of Irish immigrants.

Mary McGinnity (1879-1962) was a renowned Irish author and playwright. Her works, such as "The Daughter of Donegal" and "The Wild Geese," explored themes of Irish identity and the struggles of the Irish diaspora.

Francis McGinnity (1901-1979) was a distinguished Irish-American jurist who served as a judge on the New York State Court of Appeals. He was known for his fair and impartial rulings, and his commitment to upholding the principles of justice.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcginnity families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcginnity surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 10 Mcginnitys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 8.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 10 Mcginnitys recorded in 1881 and an index of 271.74x.

Place Total Index
Everton 10 271.74x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcginnity surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Victoria 2
Margaret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcginnity surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 2
Benjamin 1
John 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mcginnity households.

FAQ

Mcginnity surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcginnity surname in 1881?

In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Mcginnity surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcginnity surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016. That gives Mcginnity a modern rank of #22,234.

What does the Mcginnity surname mean?

Son of the descendant of a fair-haired person of the Gaelic race.

What does the Mcginnity map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcginnity bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.