Contents [hide]

McInnes History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McInnes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of McInnes

What does the name McInnes mean?

In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the McInnes family were born. Their name comes from 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 McInnes family

The surname McInnes 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 McInnes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McInnes research. Another 155 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1358 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McInnes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McInnes 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. McInnes has been spelled MacInnes, MacInnis, MacAngus and many more.

Early Notables of the McInnes family

More information is included under the topic Early McInnes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McInnes Ranking

In Australia, the name McInnes is the 463^rd most popular surname with an estimated 8,244 people with that name. 1

Migration of the McInnes family to Ireland

Some of the McInnes 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.

McInnes 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 McInness to arrive on North American shores:

McInnes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Duncan McInnes, who settled in Philadelphia in 1798

McInnes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

David M McInnes, who landed in Virginia in 1814 2
Angus McInnes, who arrived in North Carolina in 1820 2
Benjamin McInnes, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1847 2
Thomas and Helen McInnes, who settled in Boston in 1849
Peter Ray McInnes, who landed in Arkansas in 1890 2

McInnes migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McInnes Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Angus McInnes, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Jean McInnes, aged 7, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Duncan McInnes, who landed in Canada in 1821
Finlay McInnes, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1848
Donald McInnes, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1848
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McInnes migration to Australia +

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

McInnes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

A McInnes, who landed in Sydney, Australia in 1839
James McInnes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 3
Mary McInnes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 3
Hector McInnes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 3
Mrs. Flora Mcinnes, (b. 1828), aged 24, Scottish laundress who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Duchess of Northumberland" on 25th November 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McInnes 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:

McInnes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr McINNES, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Lady Lilford
Mr McINNES, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship "Blenheim"
Mr. Lachlan Mcinnes, (b. 1801), aged 46, Scottish settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 5
Mrs. Nancy Mcinnes, Scottish settler travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 5
Miss Anne Mcinnes, (b. 1829), aged 18, Scottish settler travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McInnes (post 1700) +

William C. McInnes, American University President 1964-1973
Gavin Miles McInnes (b. 1970), American writer
Archie McInnes, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1908; Socialist Labor Candidate for justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1909; Socialist Labor Candidate for Michigan State Treasurer, 1910 6
Thomas "Tom" McInnes (1870-1900), Scottish professional footballer
Ian McInnes (b. 1967), former Scottish footballer
Alison McInnes (b. 1957), Scottish Liberal Democrat politician
Tom McInnes (1870-1937), Scottish footballer
Hugh McInnes VC (1815-1879), Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross
Helen McInnes (1907-1985), Scottish suspense novelist
Derek John McInnes (b. 1971), Scottish footballer
... (Another 17 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McInnes family +

North Sea Flood

William McInnes, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

The McInnes 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: MacAonghais a-rithist
Motto Translation: Again MacInnes

Citations +

"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) TOMATIN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Tomatin.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duchess-of-northumberland
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html