Contents [hide]

McKinnon History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McKinnon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the McKinnon family were born. 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.

Early Origins of the McKinnon family

The surname McKinnon 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 McKinnon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McKinnon 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 McKinnon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McKinnon Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. McKinnon has been spelled MacKinnon, MacKinning, MacInnon, MacKinnen, MacFingon and many more.

Early Notables of the McKinnon family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was 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...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McKinnon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McKinnon World Ranking

In the United States, the name McKinnon is the 1,986^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name McKinnon is ranked the 532^nd most popular surname with an estimated 9,221 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name McKinnon is the 358^th popular surname with an estimated 10,151 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks McKinnon as 550^th with 1,283 people. 4

McKinnon migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first McKinnons to arrive on North American shores:

McKinnon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Archibald McKinnon, aged 40, who landed in Georgia in 1775 5

McKinnon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles McKinnon, aged 23, who arrived in South Carolina in 1812 5
Duncan McKinnon, who landed in New York in 1812 5
Hugh McKinnon, who landed in New York in 1812 5
John McKinnon, aged 44, who landed in North Carolina in 1812 5
Laughlan McKinnon, aged 50, who arrived in South Carolina in 1812 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McKinnon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McKinnon Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Sgt. Gregor McKinnon U.E. (b. 1749) born in Isle of Skye, Scotland from North Carolina, USA who settled in York County, New Brunswick c. 1784, then relocated to Glenelg, Northumberland County, New Brunswick he served in the Royal North Carolina Volunteers, married twice having 8 children, he died in 1837 6

McKinnon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Angus McKinnon, aged 12, who arrived in Canada in 1812
Effie McKinnon, aged 6, who arrived in Canada in 1812
Isabella McKinnon, aged 14, who arrived in Canada in 1812
Mary McKinnon, aged 23, who landed in Canada in 1812
John McKinnon, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Edward Reid" in 1833
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McKinnon migration to Australia +

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

McKinnon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Neil McKinnon, (O'Neil, Patrick), Scottish convict who was convicted in Inverary, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Donald McKinnon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 8
Mary McKinnon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 8
Geoffrey McKinnon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 8
Archibald McKinnon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McKinnon migration to New Zealand +

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:

McKinnon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John McKinnon, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Mr. McKinnon, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Phillips" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in April 1852 9
Mr. Neil McKinnon, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1859 10
Mrs. McKinnon, Scottish settler with 2 sons and 7 daughters travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1859 10
Mr. William McKinnon, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 30th July 1861 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McKinnon (post 1700) +

Daniel Duncan McKinnon (1927-2017), American bronze medalist ice hockey player for the American national team at the 1956 Winter Olympics
Ray McKinnon (b. 1957), American actor, screenwriter, film director and producer from Adel, Georgia
Dennis Lewis McKinnon (b. 1961), former professional American NFL football wide receiver
Kate McKinnon (b. 1984), born Kate McKinnon Berthold, American actress and comedian, best known for her sketch comedy work on Saturday Night Live
Alexander J. McKinnon (1856-1887), American Major League Baseball first baseman
Ronald "Ronnie" McKinnon (1940-2023), Scottish professional footballer for the Scottish national team
Ronald McKinnon (1940-2023), Scottish professional footballer who played for Rangers and the Scotland national team
Rob McKinnon (b. 1966), Scottish former football left back from Glasgow
Ray McKinnon (b. 1970), Scottish football player and manager from Dundee
Angus McKinnon (1886-1968), Scottish footballer
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McKinnon family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Maggie Louise McKinnon, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11
Mr. Donald McKinnon (1892-1917), Scottish Seaman aboard the SS Curaca from Barra, Scotland, United Kingdom who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11
Mr. Donald McKinnon (1894-1917), Scottish Seaman aboard the SS Curaca from Barra, Scotland, United Kingdom who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11
Miss Marguerite Louise McKinnon (1915-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11
Master Hector Eugene McKinnon Jr. (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11

Hillcrest Coal Mine

Mr. Steve McKinnon (1878-1914), Canadian Miner from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 12
Mr. John B McKinnon (1864-1914), Canadian Miner from Nova Scotia, Canada who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 12

North Sea Flood

Malcolm McKinnon, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" who survived the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Lusitania

Mrs. Jeanie Mckinnon, Scottish 2nd Class passenger residing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada returning to Scotland, to help nurse wounded, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 13

SS Caribou

Mr. C. A. McKinnon, British passenger who was Royal Air Force was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking

The McKinnon 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

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) TOMATIN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Tomatin.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
List Of Miners - Hillcrest Mine Disaster Data. (Retrieved 2014, June 24) . Retrieved from http://www.hillcrestminedisaster.com/data/index.php?title=List_Of_Miners
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/