Show ContentsKinnane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • Scotland
Kinnane Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Kinnane

What does the name Kinnane mean?

The sea-swept Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland, made up the ancient Dalriadan kingdom, the ancestral home of the Kinnane family. Their name comes from the Gaelic personal name Findgaine. This is derived from the earlier forms Finghin and Finnguine. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Fhionghuin or Mac Fhionnghain.

Kinnane Coat of Arms Creation

The Mackinnons have a boar's head with a shin bone in its mouth, which was adopted as their crest in memory of the following legendary incident.

Mackinnon of Strathaird in Skye and six men were out after deer, and when the hunt was over they went into a cave where they roasted some venison. While they were eating it, the mouth of the cave was darkened by a huge boar, evidently ready to attack them. His men retreated to the innermost recesses of the cave, but Mackinnon remained ready to face the boar. Just as it was in the act of charging, he thrust the shin bone down the animal's throat and choked it. Hence the crest. The motto is in Latin " Audentes fortuna juvat " (Fortune favours the daring). 1

Early Origins of the Kinnane family

The surname Kinnane was first found in on the Isles of Mull and Skye, where they held a family seat from early times. This distinguished Scottish Clan descended from Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Scotland who died in the 9th century and were part of the Siol Alpin, a group of Clans descended from the King. They held lands in Mull, Skye and Iona, and were long time Abbots of Iona. They were connected with the MacDonalds and other Alpin Clans such as the MacNabs and the MacGregors. The Clan was present at the Battle of Inverlochy under the Montrose and being of royalist influence they supported King Charles at Worcester. Again in 1745 in Culloden they supported the Stuarts and the Chief was imprisoned in London in the Tower.

Early History of the Kinnane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kinnane research. Another 319 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1409, 1467, 1495, 1506, 1536, 1545, 1557, 1560, 1577, 1586, 1609, 1621, 1662, 1673, 1675, 1681, 1745, 1789, 1791, 1804, 1808, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1826, 1829, 1830, 1836, 1870 and 1884 are included under the topic Early Kinnane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kinnane Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of Kinnane have been recorded over the years, including These are the result of the medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English. MacKinnon, MacKinning, MacInnon, MacKinnen, MacFingon and many more.

Early Notables of the Kinnane family

Daniel MacKinnon (1791-1836), colonel and historian of the Coldstream guards, born in 1791, was son of William Mackinnon, chief of the Clan Mackinnon. William Alexander Mackinnon (1789-1870) was his elder brother, and Daniel Henry Mackinnon (1813-1884) was his first cousin. On 16 June 1804 he was appointed ensign in the Coldstream guards, in which his uncle, Henry Mackinnon, author of 'A Journal of...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kinnane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kinnane migration to Australia +

Kinnane Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Kinnane, aged 42, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Burlington"
  • John Kinnane, aged 19, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Burlington"
  • John Kinnane, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Burlington"
  • Michael Kinnane, aged 17, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Burlington"
  • Peter Kinnane, aged 16, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Burlington"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kinnane (post 1700) +

  • John E. Kinnane, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1907, 1917-19; Candidate for justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1911 2
  • James H. Kinnane (b. 1860), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State Senate 7th District, 1907-08; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1912 3

The Kinnane Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Audentes fortuna juvat
Motto Translation: Fortune favours the bold
  1. Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

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