McGuinness History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families began to migrate to North America in the late 18th century in the hopes of gaining their own plot of land. The majority of these early immigrant families were relatively well off because the transatlantic passage was costly. As a result the decision to immigrate was carefully made. Those immigrants that arrived in the late 1840s differed because their decision to leave was in direct response to the Great Potato Famine. Many of the families that crossed the Atlantic during this decade were destitute, either having spent all they had on the fare or even starting with nothing, but being sponsored by a philanthropic society. Whenever, these Irish families came to North America, they were made great contributions to the developing nations of the United States and what would come to be known as Canada: the earlier settlers as land clearing homesteaders, and the later immigrants as the muscle that would build the industries and routes of transportation so critical to a powerful nation. Research into the passenger and immigration lists has shown many early and significant Irish immigrants bearing the name McGuinness:

McGuinness Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Matthew McGuinness, who landed in New York in 1836 3
• Margaret McGuinness, aged 19, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 3
• Catharine McGuinness, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1854 3
• Kitty McGuinness, aged 18, who landed in New York in 1854 3
• John McGuinness, aged 25, who arrived in New York, NY in 1855 3
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McGuinness Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mr. Daniel McGuinness, aged 6 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Free Trader" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 4
• Mr. Daniel McGuinness, aged 18 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Robert Peel" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 4
• Mr. Malcolm McGuinness, aged 2 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Robert Peel" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 4
• Mr. Malcom McGuinness, aged 4 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Robert Peel" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 25th September 1847 4
• Miss. Thomas McGuinness, aged 16 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Larch" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 4
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McGuinness Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Thomas McGuinness, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Omega"

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McGuinness Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Kate McGuinness, (b. 1855), aged 22, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Marlborough" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 4th November 1877 5

• Edward "Ed" McGuinness, American comic book artist and penciller, best known for his work on Superman, Superman/Batman and Hulk
• Peter J. McGuinness, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1930-36; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1936 6
• Patrick McGuinness, American politician, Supervisor of Scio Township, Michigan, 1877-79 6
• Pat McGuinness, American Republican politician, Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 50th District, 2010 6
• Louis J. McGuinness, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1950; Candidate for Michigan State Board of Education, 1951 6
• John F. McGuinness, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 13th District, 1908 6
• John McGuinness, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Torrington, 1926 6
• James A. McGuinness, American politician, First Selectman of Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1897 6
• Cornelius P. McGuinness, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Stamford, Connecticut, 1936-51 6
• James Martin Pacelli McGuinness (1950-2017), Irish Sinn Féin politician, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (2007-2017)
• ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)