Magennis last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Magennis is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Magennis.

Meaning of Magennis

A surname of Irish origin meaning son of the fire-born or passionate.

Magennis, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Magennis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Magennis in America

Magennis is the 106096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Magennis surname appeared 168 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Magennis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Magennis to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 106096 83965 23.29%
Count 168 208 -21.28%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.08 -28.57%

The history of the last name Magennis

The surname Magennis originates from Ireland, with its earliest roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Mag Aonghusa," which translates to "son of Angus." The name is associated with the ancient Irish kingdom of Dál Riata, situated in modern-day County Antrim.

The Magennis family played a significant role in Irish history, with their ancestral lands located in the baronies of Iveagh and Lecale in County Down. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, which reference a chieftain named Gilla Espuic Mag Aonghusa in the year 1177.

In the 14th century, the Magennis clan rose to prominence as Lords of Iveagh. They were known for their fierce resistance against English rule and their participation in various Irish rebellions and conflicts. Notable figures from this period include Rory Magennis, who led a rebellion against the English in 1590, and Sir Arthur Magennis, a distinguished military commander during the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.

The Magennis name can also be found in ancient Irish manuscripts and records, such as the Book of Leinster and the Annals of the Four Masters. These sources provide valuable insights into the family's history and lineage.

During the 17th century, the Magennis family faced significant upheaval and displacement due to the Plantation of Ulster. Many members of the clan were forced to resettle in other parts of Ireland or fled to Continental Europe. However, the name remained resilient, with notable individuals emerging in later centuries.

One such figure was Aedh Roe Magennis (1645-1717), a Catholic priest and scholar who played a crucial role in preserving Irish language and culture during the Penal Laws. Another prominent Magennis was Arthur James Magennis (1766-1845), a Member of Parliament and supporter of Catholic Emancipation in Ireland.

Other notable individuals bearing the Magennis surname include Thomas Magennis (1766-1853), an Irish poet and translator, and John Magennis (1954-1984), a Catholic civilian who was killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Throughout its long history, the Magennis name has maintained a strong connection to its Irish roots, reflecting the resilience and endurance of an ancient clan that has left an indelible mark on the island's cultural and political landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Magennis

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Magennis.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Magennis was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.43% 162
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Magennis has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.43% 96.15% 0.29%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% 2.88% (S)%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Magennis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Magennis, please contact us.

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"Magennis last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 28, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/magennis-surname-popularity/.

"Magennis last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/magennis-surname-popularity/. Accessed 28 August, 2025

Magennis last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/magennis-surname-popularity/.

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