| ![Show Contents]() MacInnis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland Etymology of MacInnisWhat does the name MacInnis mean? The west coast of Scotland and the rocky Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the MacInnis family. The root of their name is the personal name Angus. The Gaelic form of the name, Mac Aonguis, translates as son of Angus. Angus refers to the Pictish King Onnust who died in the year 761. While there are no direct links with this King in the history of the Clan or surname, there is a conjectural line, which may be adopted. The lands descended into the Barony of Innes in the County of Elginshire. However, the son or sons of Angus, originally from the Kingdom of Dalriada, were one of the three kindred houses, of the kingdom, the other two houses being the Gabran (the largest) and Lornetach which provided fighting men for the defense of the Kingdom of early Scots. For every twenty homes owned, they were obliged to provide two galleys, and so Angus, having 430 houses, provided a fleet of approximately forty galleys for the defense of the waters of Dalriada, generally those estuaries around the mouth of the Clyde. Early Origins of the MacInnis familyThe surname MacInnis was first found in Morven, their earliest known territory. In 1230, the Clan suffered from King Alexander II's campaign against Argyll. The Clan, however, retained their castle Kinlochaline, which stands upon strategic rock in Morvern. A massive castle by early standards, today it is in ruins. Early History of the MacInnis familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacInnis research. Another 155 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1358 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacInnis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. MacInnis Spelling VariationsSpelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. MacInnis has been spelled MacInnes, MacInnis, MacAngus and many more. Early Notables of the MacInnis familyMore information is included under the topic Early MacInnis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the MacInnis family to IrelandSome of the MacInnis family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| MacInnis migration to the United States | + |
Numerous Scottish settlers settled along the east coast of the colonies that would become the United States and Canada. Others traveled to the open country of the west. At the time of the American War of Independence, some remained in the United States, while those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The highland games and Clan societies that sprang up across North America in the 20th century have helped many Scots to recover parts of their lost traditions. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first MacInniss to arrive in North America:
MacInnis Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Charles Macinnis, who landed in America in 1750 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name MacInnis (post 1700) | + |
- William H. MacInnis (b. 1861), American politician, 10th Mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts
- Alison Elizabeth MacInnis (b. 1980), American actress
- Gordon MacInnis (1945-1986), Canadian businessperson, educator and politician who represented 2nd Queens in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1986 to 1996
- Dr. Joseph Beverly MacInnis CM (1937-1995), Canadian physician, author, poet, underwater diver and aquanaut, first scientist to dive beneath the North Pole, executive producer of the Genie Award nominated film Titanica (1995)
- Donald MacInnis (1918-2007), Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons
- Winona Grace MacInnis OC, OBC (1905-1991), Canadian politician and feminist, the first woman from British Columbia elected to the Canadian House of Commons
- Allan "Al" MacInnis (b. 1963), Canadian former NHL ice hockey defenceman, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007
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: MacAonghais a-rithist
Motto Translation: Again MacInnes
- 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)
 |
