Guinness
An English surname originating as a nickname from the Gaelic word meaning "brown-haired".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Guinness. That puts it at #111,988 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Guinness surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#111,988
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
157
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 157 bearers of the surname Guinness in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 111988th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Guinness, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Guinness
The surname Guinness originated in Ireland during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norman French word "Engaine," meaning a wedge or ingot, which was likely a reference to a metalworker's occupation. The name was first recorded in County Down, Ulster, in the early 13th century.
The earliest known bearer of the Guinness surname was Ranaulf de Engaine, who was listed in the Chartularies of St. Mary's Abbey in Dublin in 1207. Over time, the spelling evolved from Engaine to Gingen, Gyngen, and eventually Guinness.
In the 14th century, the Guinness family gained prominence in County Wexford, where they held lands and estates. One notable member was Sir Walter Guinness, who served as the Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1376.
During the 16th century, the Guinness name appeared in various records and documents, including the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns and the Annals of the Four Masters. In 1553, a John Guinness was mentioned in the Fiants as being granted lands in County Wicklow.
The most famous bearer of the Guinness surname was Arthur Guinness, who was born in 1725 in County Kildare. In 1759, he founded the iconic Guinness Brewery in St. James's Gate, Dublin, which became a global success and cemented the family's legacy. Arthur Guinness passed away in 1803.
Another notable Guinness was Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, who was born in 1847 and played a significant role in the expansion and modernization of the Guinness Brewery. He was also a prominent philanthropist and art collector. He died in 1927.
Walter Edward Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne, was a British diplomat and politician born in 1880. He served as the Secretary of State for the Colonies and was assassinated in 1944 during his tenure as the British Resident Minister in Cairo.
The Guinness name has been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Guinness Bridge in County Wexford and Guinness Square in Dublin, further solidifying its connection to the country's history and heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Guinness
Among Census respondents with the surname Guinness, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Guinness bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Guinness surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.6%
- Hispanic or Latino3.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Guinness surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #111,988 | #111,988 | 0.0% |
| Count | 157 | 157 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Guinness bearers went from 157 to 157 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #111,988 to #111,988.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Guinness
FAQ
Guinness surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Guinness?
The surname Guinness holds position #111,988 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Guinness surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Guinness, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.