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

McGinnis, 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 McGinnis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McGinnis in America

McGinnis is the 1303rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McGinnis surname appeared 26,953 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname McGinnis.

We can also compare 2010 data for McGinnis 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.

The history of the last name McGinnis

The surname McGinnis has its origins in Ireland and Scotland, with roots dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Muinneachan," which means "son of the monk" or "monkish one." It is believed to have originated in the regions of Ulster and Argyll.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the early 17th century. The name appears as "MacMuinneachan" in this historical document.

In Scotland, the surname McGinnis is often associated with the clan MacInnes, a branch of the larger Clan Donald. The MacInnes clan was prominent in the Hebrides and the western Highlands of Scotland.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, many Irish and Scottish settlers bearing the name McGinnis migrated to the Americas, particularly to the United States and Canada. This led to the establishment of various branches of the McGinnis family across North America.

Notable individuals with the surname McGinnis include:

1. John Joseph McGinnis (1828-1902), an Irish-American Catholic priest and founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kansas.
2. William McGinnis (1805-1865), an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Representative from Ohio.
3. Catherine McGinnis (1857-1933), an Irish-American educator and writer who founded the McGinnis School in New York City.
4. Michael McGinnis (1892-1962), an American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in the Major Leagues.
5. John McGinnis (1953-), an American legal scholar and professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

The surname McGinnis has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations, such as McGinnis Creek in Montana, McGinnis Slough in Oregon, and McGinnis Lake in British Columbia, Canada.

While the name has evolved over time, with variations like McGinness and MacGuinness, the core meaning and origins remain rooted in the Gaelic heritage of Ireland and Scotland, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of these regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McGinnis

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

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 McGinnis was:

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 McGinnis has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 McGinnis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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