Surname Guinaw - Meaning and Origin
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Guinaw: What does the surname Guinaw mean?
The last name Guinaw is of French origin, and can be found in immigrants to Canada's Maritime Provinces. It is derived from the French word “guignon," meaning an orchard worker, or a person who tends elm trees. In the 18th century, the use of the name Guinaw became more prevalent in France, especially in the region of Lorraine.
The term "guinaw" was the Norman spelling of the word "guignon" and was used to describe an orchard worker who specialized in elm trees. In the 18th century, when French immigrants were going to the New World, the last name Guinaw came with them. The term was still used when referring to a person who worked in an orchard.
The last name Guinaw was used by many immigrants in the Industrial Revolution era and later. Amongst other things, the name was used to denote a person’s occupation as a farm laborer or gardener. The surname also denotes a person’s geographic origin from the region of Lorraine, France.
In more recent history, the name Guinaw carries less of a connotation of a specific geographical origin, but more so of a person’s background or place of origin. In some cases, last name Guinaw is a shortened form of the original spelling of “Guignon.” It may also be found spelled differently depending on geographical origin, such as “Guinand,” “Guinot,” and “Guinvilliers.”
Overall, the last name Guinaw is a proud and long-standing part of French ancestry, and the term still carries the meaning of an orchard worker and elm trees, as it has for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisGuinaw: Where does the name Guinaw come from?
The last name Guinaw is not a particularly common name today, but it does have some presence primarily in Southeast Asia. There is evidence to suggest that the last name originated in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, when Spanish settlers brought the surname with them and it quickly spread throughout the islands.
The highest concentration of the name today is found in the Philippines, where it is the 174th most common Filipino surname. According to research from Ancestry.com, the name is also quite common in Malaysia and Singapore, and is found to a lesser extent in other parts of Asia, including China, India, and Ethiopia. The name has also spread to North America, where it is present in small numbers in Canada and the United States.
The various distribution of the Guinaw name today suggests that it is a relatively new surname, having spread quickly and widely through migration. This initial spread of the name was likely aided by the fact that it is a relatively straightforward and phonetically similar to many other names in various languages, suggesting that it was adopted by many different people relatively quickly. It is likely to have initially risen to prominence in the Philippines during the 16th century, when Spanish settlers first arrived, and has spread through migration since then.
Variations of the surname Guinaw
The surname Guinaw has several possible variants, spellings and surnames derived from the same origin.
One of the most common variations is the spelling of Guinaw as Guynaw, with other variations such as Guyne, Gynoe, Gynowe, and Guyneau, as well as various phonetic spellings. This spelling is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Northern Isles.
Another likely variation on the name is Gunnu, sometimes spelled Gunnoo, which is more commonly found in Eastern Europe. This variant is believed to have developed in one of the Baltic countries, most likely Lithuania or Latvia.
In its anglicised form, Guinaw may also be spelt Ginno, Ginnoe, Gyno, or Gynoe. This variant is usually found in English records.
The French spelling of Guinaw is Guinau, and could be further simplified to Guinau or Guinaux. This variation is usually found in France, Quebec, and some parts of America.
Finally, the surname Guinaw is sometimes referred to as Guiney, Gwinnoe, Gwinow, Gwinowe or Gwinno. This variant is most commonly found in England.
Overall, these various spellings and surnames all have the same origin as Guinaw, offering more choices for individuals hoping to discover their family history.
Famous people with the name Guinaw
- Bundit Guinaw: Thai television presenter
- Olivia Guinaw: Professional mountain biker
- Ru-Dee Guinaw: Takeo Province Chief of Police
- Kade Guinaw: American software engineer
- Chris Guinaw: American author and illustrator
- Eugene P. Guinaw: US Congressman from Michigan
- Keef Guinaw: Ghanaian Professional Footballer
- Pam Guinaw: Founder of Powerven Solutions
- Karel Guinaw: Entrepreneur and CEO for BlueTurner Media
- Dahlia Guinaw: American Director, Actor, and Screenwriter