MacKenzie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
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Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of MacKenzie

What does the name MacKenzie mean?

The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name MacKenzie is the personal name Coinneach. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Coinnich or Mac Choinnich, both of which mean son of Coinneach. However, In Adamnan, the Gaelic form of the name is Cainnechus, which is derived from the word cann, meaning fair or bright; thus, the surname is of the 'nickname' variety in this case.

MacKenzie Coat of Arms Creation

The Mackenzies have a deer's head for their crest, and the Gaelic motto, " Cuidich an Righ " (Help the King), alleged to have been given under the following circumstances:

The founder of the family, Colin Fitzgerald, who was reputed to be an Irish adventurer, was, in 1265, with his sovereign, Alexander III., hunting in the forest of Mar, when a stag, pursued by the hounds, made straight for the King. The brave Colin interposed his own person between His Majesty and the infuriated animal, shot the stag in the forehead, and in gratitude he was granted the right to use as his armorial bearings a stag's head bleeding where the arrow pierced it, with two greyhounds as supporters.

The incident of the hunt was painted by B. West for the last of the Seaforths. The artist received £800 for the noble picture, which is still preserved in Brahan Castle.

According to Nisbet their crest was a sun in its splendour, and the motto, " Luceo non uro " (I shine but I do not burn), which motto is now on the beautiful old furniture in Brahan Castle; but neither the above crest nor motto is shown in Burke's Peerage. 1

Early Origins of the MacKenzie family

The surname MacKenzie was first found in Ross-shire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rois) a former county, now part of the Council Areas of Highland and Western Isles in Northern Scotland, which emerged from the Gaelic lordship of the Earl of Ross, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the MacKenzie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacKenzie research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1278, 1561, 1568, 1569, 1594, 1611, 1630, 1635, 1636, 1651, 1662, 1677, 1678, 1688, 1691, 1714, 1715, 1771 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacKenzie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKenzie Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name MacKenzie include many spelling variations. They include They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. MacKenzie, McKenzie, Kennethson, Kenneth, Kennieson, MacCoinnich (Gaelic), MacWhinnie, MacWhinny, MacWhinney and many more.

Early Notables of the MacKenzie family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

John Mackenzie (died c. 1561), or "John of Killin", traditionally reckoned 9th of Kintail, a Highland chief
Kenneth Mackenzie (died 1568), 10th of Kintail and nicknamed Coinneach na Cuirc (or "Kenneth of the Whittle"), a Highland chief
Colin Mackenzie of Kintail (died 1594), nicknamed "Cam" ("crooked", because one-eyed), a Highland chief
Kenneth Mackenzie, the first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail (c.1569-1611), a Highland Clan chief
George Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Seaforth (died 1651), a Highland clan chief and Scottish nobleman
Kenneth Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Seaforth (1635-1678), a Highland clan chief and Scottish nobleman
Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh (1636-1691), known as Bluidy Mackenzie, a Scottish lawyer, Lord Advocate
Murdoch MacKenzie (died 1688), Scottish minister and prelate, Bishop of Moray (1662-1677) and Orkney (1677-1688)

MacKenzie World Ranking

In the United States, the name MacKenzie is the 2,574^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name MacKenzie is ranked the 162^nd most popular surname with an estimated 21,393 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name MacKenzie is the 279^th popular surname with an estimated 12,513 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks MacKenzie as 134^th with 3,506 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks MacKenzie as 285^th with 21,467 people. 6

Migration of the MacKenzie family to Ireland

Some of the MacKenzie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKenzie migration to the United States +

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name MacKenzie, or a variant listed above:

MacKenzie Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Collen Mackenzie, who arrived in Maryland or Virginia in 1680 7

MacKenzie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Mackenzie, who landed in Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1746 7
Mary Mackenzie, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1758 7
Anne Mackenzie, who landed in South Carolina in 1760 7
Duncan Mackenzie, who arrived in New York in 1770 7
John Mackenzie, aged 16, who arrived in Carolina in 1774 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacKenzie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Hector Mackenzie, who arrived in New York in 1800 7
Philip MacKenzie, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 7
Ralph MacKenzie, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 7
Alex MacKenzie, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 7
John MacKenzie, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacKenzie migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacKenzie Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Duncan MacKenzie U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 8
Mr. Kenneth MacKenzie U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 8

MacKenzie Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Elizabeth MacKenzie, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Janet MacKenzie, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801

MacKenzie migration to Australia +

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

MacKenzie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Donald Mackenzie, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years , transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mr. Duncan Mackenzie, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Mr. Simon Mackenzie who was convicted in Inverness, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. William Mackenzie, (James), (b. 1793), aged 39, English baker who was convicted in Inverness, Scotland for 7 years for uttering forged notes, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. George Mackenzie, English convict who was convicted in Durham, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacKenzie 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:

MacKenzie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Hugh MacKenzie, aged 50, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Catherine MacKenzie, aged 46, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Jane MacKenzie, aged 24, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Peggy MacKenzie, aged 21, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Mary MacKenzie, aged 17, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name MacKenzie (post 1700) +

William Lyon Mackenzie (1795-1861), Scottish-born, Canadian and American journalist, politician, and rebellion leader, 1st Mayor of Toronto (1834-1835), an important leader during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion
George Henry Mackenzie (1837-1891), Scottish-American chess master
Ranald Slidell Mackenzie (1840-1889), United States Army officer and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War
Kenneth Ross MacKenzie (1912-2002), American nuclear physicist who co-synthesized the element astatine in 1940
Chief Boatswain's Mate John MacKenzie (1886-1933), United States Naval Reserve sailor and a recipient of the Medal of Honor
Will Mackenzie (b. 1938), award-winning American television director
Mrs. C. H. MacKenzie, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 1924 14
Berta S. MacKenzie, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 37th District, 1968 14
Bernice MacKenzie, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1964 14
Anne Mackenzie, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1996 14
... (Another 56 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the MacKenzie family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Miss Margaret Joyce Mackenzie (1917-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Napier, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 15
Mrs. Stella Vonomarie Mackenzie (1919-1979), New Zealander passenger, from, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 15
Mr. John Alexander Mackenzie (1917-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 15

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Roderick Mackenzie, British Telegraphist, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 16

HMS Repulse

Mr. James Maclean Mackenzie (b. 1919), Scottish Able Bodied Seaman from Polbain, Scotland, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 17

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie, Irish Waiter from Belfast, Ireland, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 18
Mr. Henry Mackenzie, Scottish Waiter from Edinburgh, Scotland, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 18
Mr. Robert Anderson Mackenzie, English 3rd Class passenger from England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 19
Mrs. Mary Mackenzie, American 2nd Class passenger from New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 19

MacKenzie Motto and War Cry +

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: Luceo non uro
Motto Translation: I shine not burn.
War Cry: "Tullaich Ard."

Citations +

Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
"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
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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 of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/