Magenis

The Magenis Clan is the first name to be recorded in Ireland with a Coat
of Arms, Guinness and MacGuinness have the same Coat of Arms but recorded later. With Magenis Coat of Arms there is a motto that I am trying to get translated into English. I am not sure if it is Latin or Gaelic I have tried
both and no luck yet. Here is the motto "SoLA SALUS SERVIRE DEO" The o in SoLA is raised and it has a dot under it. Translation is "To Serve God Is The Only Salvation".

Magenis "Magennis, Gennis"

The Magenis Clan is found in Finvoy Lodge, Co. Antrim " In the Irish Book of
Arms its plate # is 71 " this is all the info I have on Magenis at this time.

MacGuinness ( MagAonghusa ) "Magennis, Guinnness, Mac Genis"

The MacGuinness Clan is found in Co. Down " In the Irish Book of Arms its
plate # is 110 and 249 ". The Magenis and MacGuinness are the same Clan, they have the same Coat of Arms and etc. Now my reference for this next part is from " The Book of Irish families Great and Small ".

McGuinness is a very well known name in Ireland. The Guinness Brewery
is connected to the family in Co. Down. The family is essentially one of the
northern portions of Ireland. In Keatings History we find the pedigree of
Magennis of Ui Eath, descended most anciently from Ir. Here, Aengus Og
Magennis was given as the 1st of the name. Keatings also gives the "
Magennises " as Lords of Iveagh, in Dal Riada ( Co. Down ). From the 12th
century they ruled as Lords of Iveagh. The chief of the family name was
inaugurated in Co. Down on " the footstone of Aonghuis " near Warrenpoint.
This stone still exists according to some in the area. The McGuinness castle and estates at Rostrevor came into the hands of the Trevor family. Rostrevor was first known as Castle Roe ( Rory ), in honor of Rory Magenniss. Another castle of the name was at Warrenpoint known as Narrow Water Castle. The McGuinness castle at Rathfriland was passed to the Hawkins family by Charles II. The family is noted in the battles of 17th century, but their great power was destroyed at that time. Many went on to serve in foreign armies on the continent. In the census of 1659 " McGinis " is given as a name of Co. Down and " McGinnis " as a principal name of Co. Monaghan. In more modern times "McGuinness " is given in 1890 in the counties of Dublin, Monaghan and Louth. At that time the " McGinnis " spelling was said to be traditionally from Leitrim, in Manorhamilton Union. Anciently, O'Rooney served as hereditary bards and poets to the McGuinness family.