Origin of Ginty and McIntyre Names

Ginty
"In the sixteenth century, MacGinty was found mainly in County Donegal in the province of Ulster, but it is now a rare surname in any part of Ireland.  In Irish it was Mag Fhinneachta, meaning fair, or blond haired as the snow. There were many variation of the name, of which Maginnity, MacGinity and Ginty are probably the most notable.

"The late Dr. Edward MacLysaght, a pioneer of the study of Irish surnames, says that MacEntee has no connection whatever with MacGinty, although the two names certainly do sound alike.

"Because of the mass migration of family from County Donegal at the time of the plantation of Ulster, the MacGintys were driven south and settled in Connacht, where they became fairly numerous in the counties of Mayo and Clare.

"Remarkably little has been recorded of this ancient family.  Percy French, the famous painter, comedian and songwriter from County Roscommon, immortalized the name in his ballad, 'Paddy McGinty's Goat,' who had a taste for their bustles hanging out on the line to dry!"

Grehan, Ida. The Dictionary of Irish Family Names, 1997, Roberts Rinehart Publishers, pages 227-228.

McIntyre
"The name Mac an tSaoir originated both in Northern Ireland and Scotland.  In Ireland, it has gone through a variety of transformations, of which MacAteer is the most common, especially in counties Antrim, Donegal and Armagh -- where there is a townland called Ballymaccateer.  Mac an tSaoir means son of the tradesman and it is very likely that the Irish name, Carpenter, also derives from MacAteer.  Both MacIntyre and MacAteer are more plentiful in the north than in the south of Ireland.  In County Mayo there is a Carrickmacintyre (MacIntyre's Rock), but Cahermackateer is a County Clare placename.

"St. Kieran, who founded the famous Abbey of Clonmacnoise in AD 541, was known as Mac an tSaoir long before the establishment of surnames, designating his father as a craftsman.  Michael Mac an tSaoir was Bishop of Clogher in County Tyrone from 1268 to 1287."

Grehan, Ida.  The Dictionary of Irish Family Names, Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1997, page 233.

John Ginty, Griffith's Valuation, 1855-1857

In an effort to value Ireland's land to secure an unbiased and equitable tax base for the wealthy and poor alike, Richard Griffith completed his monumental undertaking in the mid-1800s to collect specific valuation details to enable grand juries and Poor Law Guardians to set their tax rates. During the plotting of a tenement, the surveyor asked the occupant or the landlord, "What is the rent?" and "How is the tenement held [i.e., by lease, by the year, owned]? and entered these details in his notebook.

The Tenement Valuation in county Mayo began in 1855 and was completed in 1857. In the Civil Parish of Killasser, Townland of Carrowbeg, John Ginty, Mary Ginty's father, is listed as leasing land, a house and office/she from Edward Baxter. Edward Baxter, the owner of the land, lived in Dundee, Scotland and owned a total of 2,151 acres of land situated in County Mayo. John Ginty, for his property, paid an annual valuation of £8.

Killasser Catholic Parish, Swinford, County Mayo

The Ginty family were members of the Killasser Catholic Parish, Swinford, County Mayo.  Some history of the Parish from its website:

"The rural parish of Killasser is situated north of Swinford in County Mayo. To the north of the parish lie the spectacular Ox Mountains, and to its south flows the River Moy. Killasser takes its name from Cill Lasrach, meaning “the church of Lasair”. St Lasair established a church here in the 8th Century, the ruins of which can be found in Killasser cemetery in the townland of Knockmullin. The richness and variety of archaeological monuments in the parish, with evidence of human activity here going back 5000 years, has made Killasser well known to many outside County Mayo.

"Today, Killasser is served by two fine churches. The parish church, dedicated to All Saints, and situated in the townland of Listernan, was built in 1832. Its anchor-shaped design is unique in Ireland. The church of St Thomas, in the “half parish” of Callow, was built in 1811. It is prominently situated overlooking the picturesque waters of Callow Lough Upper and Lower. The church has beautiful stained glass windows, including a window depicting St Patrick from the studio of Harry Clarke.

"Located near the parish church of All Saints is the Killasser Community Centre, with its many facilities, opened in 1980.  In recent years, the very fine Hennigan’s Heritage Centre has been established in the parish of Killasser. Here can be traced the archaeological and social history of the parish.

"Further information about the parish can be found at www.killasser.com. (This website has photos of the area and is worth a look.)  Also recommended are three publications “Killasser-a history” and “The Archaeological Heritage of Killasser, Co Mayo”, both by Bernard O’Hara, and “Callow School Reunion – A Celebration”, all currently out of print but available at local libraries.

"Ancient Ecclesiastical Sites: The ruined remains of a very ancient church are to be found in Cill Seisneáin in the townland of Graffy.  Other more recent remains are situated on the hill of Srón in nearby  Carrowneden. Mass is celebrated in alternate years at each church  site around mid summers day."

Mary Ginty, Baptismal Record, 1850

Mary Ginty was baptized on September 3, 1850 at Killasser Roman Catholic Church, County Mayo, Ireland. Her parents John Ginty and Peggy Conway (Convey) are noted as well as her sponsors Thomas Ginty and Mary Cahill. This entry is recorded in the early pages of the Baptismal Register of the Parish and therefore damaged due to age and wear.

Lawrence McIntyre and Mary Ginty Marriage Record, 1877

From the Killasser Roman Catholic Parish Marriage Register, County Mayo, Ireland, the entry for March 1, 1877 shows the recording of Law(rence) McEntire and Mary Ginty's marriage. They were married by E. H. Carrington, Catholic Curate.  Witnesses are John Conway and Maria Convey (Conway).  Following the marriage, Lawrence and Mary resided in Lislea, Kilmacteige Parish, County Sligo, Ireland, the townland from which Lawrence came.

Mary McIntyre Egan, Cemetery Headstone, 1927

Mary McIntyre Egan died March 8, 1927 and was buried on March 10 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth, Illinois.  She is buried in a single grave 97, block 10, section 5.  GPS coordinates: N 41 degrees, 41 minutes, 15.0 seconds; W 87degrees, 46 minutes, 21.7 seconds; Altitude: 610 feet.

Her husband, Daniel J. Egan remarried and is also buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery with his second wife, Ellen "Nellie" and one of their daughters, Catherine F. Egan.  Daniel died November 7, 1960. He is buried in lot 5, block 12, section 58.  GPS coordinates: N 41 degrees, 41 minutes, 11.3 seconds; W 87 degrees, 46 minutes, 26.6 seconds; altitude 580 feet.

Mary McIntyre Egan, 1923

This is the only photo I have of Mary McIntyre Egan. It is from her 1923 U. S. Passport Application.