Clan MacKinnon ( gd, Clann MhicFhionghain ) is a
Highland
Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally speaking, upland (or uplands) refers to ranges of hills, typically from up to while highland (or highlands) is ...
Scottish clan
A Scottish clan (from Goidelic languages, Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official ...
from the islands of
Mull
Mull may refer to:
Places
*Isle of Mull, a Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides
**Sound of Mull, between the Isle of Mull and the rest of Scotland
* Mount Mull, Antarctica
*Mull Hill, Isle of Man
* Mull, Arkansas, a place along Arkansas Highway ...
and
Skye
The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated b ...
, in the
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides (; Scottish Gaelic: ''Na h-Eileanan a-staigh'', "the inner isles") is an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, whic ...
.
Popular tradition gives the clan a
Dalriadic Gaelic origin. The 19th-century
historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the stu ...
W. F. Skene
William Forbes Skene Writer to the Signet, WS FRSE Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, FSA(Scot) Doctor of Civil Law, DCL Legum Doctor, LLD (7 June 1809 – 29 August 1892), was a Scotland, Scottish lawyer, historian and antiquary.
He co-founde ...
named the clan as one of the seven clans of
Siol Alpin
Siol Alpin (from Gaelic, Sìol Ailpein: Seed of Alpin) is a family of seven Scottish clans traditionally claiming descent from Alpin, father of Cináed mac Ailpín, King of the Picts, of whom the Scots tradition considered the first King of Scot ...
, who according to Skene could all trace their ancestry back to
Alpin, father of
Cináed mac Ailpín
Kenneth MacAlpin ( mga, Cináed mac Ailpin, label=Medieval Gaelic, gd, Coinneach mac Ailpein, label=Modern Scottish Gaelic; 810 – 13 February 858) or Kenneth I was King of Dál Riada (841–850), King of the Picts (843–858), and the King ...
.
[Skene, pp. 258–260.] Popular tradition has been until recently to consider
Cináed mac Ailpín
Kenneth MacAlpin ( mga, Cináed mac Ailpin, label=Medieval Gaelic, gd, Coinneach mac Ailpein, label=Modern Scottish Gaelic; 810 – 13 February 858) or Kenneth I was King of Dál Riada (841–850), King of the Picts (843–858), and the King ...
the first
King of Scots
The monarch of Scotland was the head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. According to tradition, the first King of Scots was Kenneth I MacAlpin (), who founded the sovereign state, state in 843. Historically, the Kingdom of Scotland is thoug ...
and a
Gael
The Gaels ( ; ga, Na Gaeil ; gd, Na Gàidheil ; gv, Ny Gaeil ) are an ethnolinguistic group native to Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man in the British Isles. They are associated with the Gaelic languages: a branch of the Celtic languag ...
, however recent research speculates Cináed was a
Pictish king
The list of kings of the Picts is based on the Pictish Chronicle king lists. These are late documents and do not record the dates when the kings reigned. The various surviving lists disagree in places as to the names of kings, and the lengths o ...
and possibly even a
Pict
The Picts were a group of peoples who lived in what is now northern and eastern Scotland (north of the Firth of Forth) during Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. Where they lived and what their culture was like can be inferred from ear ...
himself.
[Johnston, Ian]
"First king of the Scots? Actually he was a Pict"
. ''The Scotsman
''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its par ...
''. 2 October 2004. Retrieved on 16 November 2007 Sir
Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk
Sir Rupert Iain Kay Moncreiffe of that Ilk, 11th Baronet (9 April 1919 – 27 February 1985), Chief of Clan Moncreiffe, was a British Officer of Arms and genealogist.
Biography
Moncreiffe was the son of Lieutenant-Commander Gerald Moncreif ...
speculated that Clan MacKinnon belonged to the kindred of Saint
Columba
Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...
, noting the MacKinnon
Arms
Arms or ARMS may refer to:
*Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body
Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to:
People
* Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader
Coat of arms or weapons
*Armaments or weapons
**Fi ...
bore the hand of the saint holding the
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...
, and the several Mackinnon
abbot
Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The fem ...
s of
Iona
Iona (; gd, Ì Chaluim Chille (IPA: iːˈxaɫ̪ɯimˈçiʎə, sometimes simply ''Ì''; sco, Iona) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there ...
.
[Moncreiffe, pp. 70–71.]
The MacKinnon clan took part in the thirty years war with neighbouring clans such as Mackay, and Mcfarlane. Early history states that the MacKinnon clan was one of the most powerful clans in highland Scotland.
Though little is known of the early history of the clan, it is likely to have served under the Lords of the Isles.
After the forfeiture of the Lordship of the Isles in 1493 the clan would have gained some independence,
and was at various times allied or at war with neighbouring clans such as the
Macleans
''Maclean's'', founded in 1905, is a Canadian news magazine reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events. Its founder, publisher John Bayne Maclean, established the magazine to provide a uniquely Canadian perspe ...
and the
MacDonalds.
The clan supported the
Jacobites
Jacobite means follower of Jacob or James. Jacobite may refer to:
Religion
* Jacobites, followers of Saint Jacob Baradaeus (died 578). Churches in the Jacobite tradition and sometimes called Jacobite include:
** Syriac Orthodox Church, sometime ...
in the 17th and 18th centuries, and tradition has the chief of the clan aiding in the escape of
Bonnie Prince Charlie
Bonnie, is a Scottish given name and is sometimes used as a descriptive reference, as in the Scottish folk song, My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean. It comes from the Scots language word "bonnie" (pretty, attractive), or the French bonne (good). That ...
in his flight to France. Because of their support for the last
Jacobite rising
, war =
, image = Prince James Francis Edward Stuart by Louis Gabriel Blanchet.jpg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = James Francis Edward Stuart, Jacobite claimant between 1701 and 1766
, active ...
the MacKinnon chiefs lost the last of their ancient clan lands.
History
Myth and legend
![Beinn na Caillich and Goir a' Bhlair](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Beinn_na_Caillich_and_Goir_a%27_Bhlair.jpg)
According to legend, the castle of Dunakin (today known as
Caisteal Maol
Caisteal Maol (Gaelic: ''Caisteal'', 'Castle', ''Maol'', 'bare') is a ruined castle located near the harbour of the village of Kyleakin, Isle of Skye, Scotland. It is also known as Castle Moil, Castle Maol, Dun Akyn, Dunakin Castle Dun Haakon an ...
), near
Kyleakin
Kyleakin (; Scottish Gaelic: ''Caol Àcain'') is a village situated on the east coast of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. The village is along the strait of Kyle Akin opposite the northwest Scottish mainland town of Kyle of Loch ...
, was built by a
Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
*Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
*Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including the ...
princess known as Saucy Mary, who married
Findanus
Findanus is claimed by Clan MacKinnon as their fourth chief and the progenitor of the clan name. He is claimed to have been a great grandson of Alpin, and to have lived in the late ninth and early tenth centuries on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. F ...
the claimed ancestor of Clan Mackinnon.
The princess was to have collected the tolls of ships sailing through the narrows between the castle and the mainland, though Norse ships were exempt from her toll.
To ensure that her taxes were paid a chain was stretched across the
kyle
Kyle or Kyles may refer to:
Places
Canada
* Kyle, Saskatchewan, Canada
Ireland
* Kyle, County Laois
* Kyle, County Wexford
Scotland
* Kyle, Ayrshire, area of Scotland which stretched across parts of modern-day East Ayrshire and South Ayrshir ...
.
On her death she was buried beneath a
cairn
A cairn is a man-made pile (or stack) of stones raised for a purpose, usually as a marker or as a burial mound. The word ''cairn'' comes from the gd, càrn (plural ).
Cairns have been and are used for a broad variety of purposes. In prehis ...
on
Beinn na Caillich (''the mountain of the old woman'').
[Mackinnon Gazetteer Key](_blank)
Retrieved on 27 October 2007 The clan are supposed to have defeated the Vikings at Goir a' Bhlair, on the eastern slopes of Beinn na Cailleach above
Broadford.
Origin of the name
The
surname
In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community.
Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...
''MacKinnon'' is an
Anglicisation
Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...
of the
Gaelic
Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...
''Mac Fhionghuin'', which is a
patronymic
A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor.
Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, alt ...
form of the Gaelic
personal name
A personal name, or full name, in onomastic terminology also known as prosoponym (from Ancient Greek πρόσωπον / ''prósōpon'' - person, and ὄνομα / ''onoma'' - name), is the set of names by which an individual person is known ...
meaning "fair born" or "fair son".
This personal name appears in the
Book of Deer
The ''Book of Deer'' (''Leabhar Dhèir'' in Gaelic) (Cambridge University Library, MS. Ii.6.32) is a 10th-century Latin Gospel Book with early 12th-century additions in Latin, Old Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It contains the earliest survivin ...
, in the
genitive form
In grammar, the genitive case (abbreviated ) is the grammatical case that marks a word, usually a noun, as modifying another word, also usually a noun—thus indicating an attributive relationship of one noun to the other noun. A genitive can al ...
as ''Finguni''.
In the ''
Annals of the Four Masters
The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Deluge, dated as 2,24 ...
'', a ''Fínghin'', described as "
anchorite
In Christianity, an anchorite or anchoret (female: anchoress) is someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society so as to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic, or Eucharist-focused life. While anchorites are ...
and Bishop of Iona", is recorded as dying in 966.
[Annals of the Four Masters. M964.3](_blank)
Retrieved on 18 November 2007 ''Fínghin, angcoire & epscop Ia, d'écc''. Middle Irish
Middle Irish, sometimes called Middle Gaelic ( ga, An Mheán-Ghaeilge, gd, Meadhan-Ghàidhlig), is the Goidelic language which was spoken in Ireland, most of Scotland and the Isle of Man from AD; it is therefore a contemporary of late Old Engli ...
forms of the name are ''Finghin'' and ''Finnguine'', while the
Modern Irish
Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was the ...
is ''Findgaine''.
These names are thought to derive from the
prehistoric Gaelic ''Vindo-gonio-s'' (translation: "fair-born").
The Anglicised ''MacKinnon'' can also derive from the Gaelic ''Mac Ionmhuinn'', a similar patronymic name meaning "son of the beloved one".
[Name Meanings](_blank)
Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com LLC is an American genealogy company based in Lehi, Utah. The largest for-profit genealogy company in the world, it operates a network of genealogical, historical records, and related genetic genealogy websites.
In November 2018, ...
. Retrieved on 23 October 2007 In consequence some "Mackinvens" have Anglicised their name to ''Love'' or ''Low'', although fewer people with these surnames actually derive their name this way, and most have no connection with the MacKinnons.
[Byars, pp. 246–247.]
Wars of Scottish Independence
According to the ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia'' the Mackinnons gave shelter to
Robert the Bruce
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventual ...
when he was a
fugitive
A fugitive (or runaway) is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from jail, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals. A fugitive from justice, also known ...
escaping to
Carrick.
[Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The ]Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs
The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs (SCSC) is the organisation that represents the Chiefs of many prominent Scottish Clans and Families. It describes itself as "the definitive and authoritative body for information on the Scottish Clan System ...
). Published in 1994. Pages 228–229. After Bruce's victory at the
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn ( gd, Blàr Allt nam Bànag or ) fought on June 23–24, 1314, was a victory of the army of King of Scots Robert the Bruce over the army of King Edward II of England in the First War of Scottish Independence. It was ...
in 1314 the Mackinnons were rewarded with land on the
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated ...
.
The Mackinnon chiefs then lived at Dunringall Castle and were styled "of Strathardale".
Origins of the clan
Little is known of the early history of the clan.
The 19th-century historian
William Forbes Skene
William Forbes Skene Writer to the Signet, WS FRSE Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, FSA(Scot) Doctor of Civil Law, DCL Legum Doctor, LLD (7 June 1809 – 29 August 1892), was a Scotland, Scottish lawyer, historian and antiquary.
He co-founde ...
gave the clan a descent linked to the clans of Siol Alpin. He claimed that the ''Finguine'' who appears in the
MS 1450 was the brother of the ''Anrias'' of whom the
Clan Gregor
Clan Gregor, also known as Clan MacGregor, () is a Highland Scottish clan that claims an origin in the early 9th century. The clan's most famous member is Rob Roy MacGregor of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The Clan is also known to hav ...
claim descent from in about 1130.
Because of the clan's early association with the
Lords of the Isles
The Lord of the Isles or King of the Isles
( gd, Triath nan Eilean or ) is a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It began with Somerled in the 12th century and thereafter the title w ...
there is no trace of early history of the Mackinnons as an independent clan. On the forfeiture of the last Lord of the Isles in the 1490s the clan at last gained some independence, though the Clan Mackinnon was always a minor clan and never gained any great power.
According to Skene, the ''MS 1450'' proved that Clan Mackinnon was a branch of Clan Gregor.
Skene maintained that the ''Finguine'' listed, was the brother of ''Anrias'' in the Clan Gregor genealogy.
The genealogy within the manuscript is as follows (original spelling in
italics
In typography, italic type is a cursive font based on a stylised form of calligraphic handwriting. Owing to the influence from calligraphy, italics normally slant slightly to the right. Italics are a way to emphasise key points in a printed tex ...
): ''Niall'', son of ''Colum'', son of ''Gillabrigde'', son of ''Eogan'', son of ''Gillabrigde'', son of ''Saineagain'', son of ''Finlaeie'', son of ''Finguine'', from whom sprung clanfinguin, son of ''Cormac'', son of ''Airbertaig'', son of ''Muircheach'', son of ''Fearchair oig''.
[''Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis'', pp. 56–67.]
According to the historian
Donald Gregory
Donald Gregory (1803–1836) was a Scottish historian and antiquarian, who published a valuable history of the Western Scottish Highlands, Highlands and Isles of Scotland.
Origins
Gregory was a younger son of James Gregory (physician), Dr James ...
the first authentic record of the clan is found in an indenture between
John of Islay, Lord of the Isles
:''This article refers to John I, Lord of the Isles; for John II, see John of Islay, Earl of Ross''
John of Islay (or John MacDonald) ( gd, Eòin Mac Dòmhnuill or gd, Iain mac Aonghais Mac Dhòmhnuill) (died 1386) was the Lord of the Isles (1 ...
and the
Lord of Lorn, in 1354.
In the indenture, Lorn agreed to hand over the Isle of Mull and other lands, if the castle of Cairn na Burgh, located on
Cairn na Burgh Mòr
Cairn na Burgh Mòr (also Cairnburgh More) is one of the Treshnish Isles in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
Cairn na Burgh Mòr is the larger of the two "Carnburgs" (as they are nicknamed) at the northeastern end of the Treshnish Isles in the I ...
in the
Treshnish Isles
The Treshnish Isles are an archipelago of small islands and skerries, lying west of the Isle of Mull, in Scotland. They are part of the Inner Hebrides. Trips to the Treshnish Isles operate from Ulva Ferry, Tobermory, Ardnamurchan and Tiree.
Geo ...
, was not delivered into the keeping of any of ''Clan Finnon''.
[Gregory, pp. 80–81.] Sometime after the death of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, in 1386,
John Mór (younger son of John of Islay) rebelled against his elder brother
Domhnall
Donald is a masculine given name derived from the Goidelic languages, Gaelic name ''Dòmhnall''.. This comes from the Proto-Celtic language, Proto-Celtic *''Dumno-ualos'' ("world-ruler" or "world-wielder"). The final -''d'' in ''Donald'' is part ...
, in an attempt to take the Lordship of the Isles for himself.
According to a manuscript relating the history of the MacDonalds, written in the 17th century, it was Finnon, known as the ''Green Abbot'', and "a subtle and wicked councillor", who persuaded John Mór to revolt against his brother.
It further states that the eloquent ''Green Abbot'' then persuaded the MacLeans and MacLeods of Harris to aid in John Mór's revolt, and acquire islands for themselves.
Though assisted by his allies, John Mor was defeated, and by 1395 had fled to Ireland. John Mór was later pardoned by his brother, though the MacDonald history states that the ''Green Abbots kinsman, the Mackinnon chief, was
hanged
Hanging is the suspension of a person by a noose or ligature around the neck.Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. Hanging as method of execution is unknown, as method of suicide from 1325. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' states that hanging in ...
for his part.
The ''Green Abbot'' himself, was spared only because he was a churchman, and spent the rest of his life imprisoned on Iona by the Macdonalds.
[''Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis'', pp. 303–304.]
The earliest record of the Mackinnons is of ''Lachlan Makfingane'', who witnessed a charter by ''
Donald de Ile, dominus Insularum'', to ''Hector Macgilleone, dominus de
Doward'', on 1 November 1409.
Later in 1467, ''Lachlann M'Fynwyn de Myschenys'', witnessed a charter by the
Lord of the Isles
The Lord of the Isles or King of the Isles
( gd, Triath nan Eilean or ) is a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It began with Somerled in the 12th century and thereafter the title w ...
.
According to the 17th century MacDonald manuscript, in a description of the Lord of the Isles'
Council of the Isles, "MacFinnon was obliged to see weights and measures adjusted".
[''Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis'', pp. 296–297.]
The chief's
crest
Crest or CREST may refer to:
Buildings
*The Crest (Huntington, New York), a historic house in Suffolk County, New York
*"The Crest", an alternate name for 63 Wall Street, in Manhattan, New York
*Crest Castle (Château Du Crest), Jussy, Switzerla ...
is a
boar
The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is no ...
's head erased, argent, holding in its mouth a deer's shankbone, proper.
[The Highland Clans of Scotland](_blank)
Retrieved on 27 October 2007 A Mackinnon legend that is supposed to explain the chief's crest is of a Mackinnon who was hunting on the shores of
Loch Scavaig
''Loch'' () is the Scottish Gaelic, Scots and Irish word for a lake or sea inlet. It is cognate with the Manx lough, Cornish logh, and one of the Welsh words for lake, llwch.
In English English and Hiberno-English, the anglicised spelling ...
in Skye. After becoming separated from his hunting party the Mackinnon spent the night in a cave for shelter. While preparing some venison which he was about to cook over an open fire he was attacked by a wild boar which charged into the cave. Mackinnon then drove the butchered deer's leg into the mouth of the boar, jamming it open, before killing the wild animal.
[Mackinnon, pp. 192–195.]
Abbacy of Iona
![MacKinnon's Cross (Iona)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/MacKinnon%27s_Cross_%28Iona%29.png)
The early clan seems to have had a close connection with the abbacy on the small
Inner Hebridean
The Inner Hebrides (; Scottish Gaelic: ''Na h-Eileanan a-staigh'', "the inner isles") is an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, whic ...
island of
Iona
Iona (; gd, Ì Chaluim Chille (IPA: iːˈxaɫ̪ɯimˈçiʎə, sometimes simply ''Ì''; sco, Iona) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there ...
. The abbacy of Iona was first founded in 563 by Saint Columba, and many following abbots were selected from his kindred (
Cenel Conaill: descendants of
Conall Gulban
Conall Gulban (died c. 464) was an Irish king and eponymous ancestor of the ''Cenél Conaill'', who founded the kingdom of ''Tír Chonaill'' in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal in Ulster. He was the son of Niall No ...
, who was Columba's great-grandfather and the founder of
Tír Conaill
Tyrconnell (), also spelled Tirconnell, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Donegal, which has sometimes been called ''County Tyrconnell''. At times it also included parts of County Fermanagh, Cou ...
).
Moncreiffe speculated that the MacKinnons were also of this kindred, and noted their Coat of Arms bore the hand of the saint holding the Cross.
Several MacKinnons were
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
Abbots of Iona
The Abbot of Iona was the head of Iona Abbey during the Middle Ages and the leader of the monastic community of Iona, as well as the overlord of scores of monasteries in both Scotland and Ireland, including Durrow, Kells and, until the Synod of ...
, who were leaders of the Benedictine
monastic community
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
on the island of Iona. Finghuine MacFhionghain (
fl. 1357–1405), and Eoin MacFhionghain (John MacKinnon, son of Lachlan MacKinnon) (1467–1498) who was the last Benedictine Abbot of Iona. His tomb lies in Iona to this day, along with the shaft of a
Celtic cross
The Celtic cross is a form of Christian cross featuring a nimbus or ring that emerged in Ireland, France and Great Britain in the Early Middle Ages. A type of ringed cross, it became widespread through its use in the stone high crosses er ...
, known today as 'MacKinnon’s Cross', dedicated in 1489 to himself and his father (Lauchlan),
[THE CLAN MACKINNON](_blank)
Retrieved on 27 October 2007[Allen, pp. 79–93.] which is inscribed: "Hec Fingone: et: eivs: filii: Johannis: X: abbatis de Hy: facta: anno: Domini: måccccålxxxåixå".
16th and 17th centuries
The Mackinnons regularly feuded with the
Clan Maclean.
However, after the forfeiture of the Lordship of the Isles the Mackinnons tended to follow the MacLeans of Duart, though occasionally the clan sided with the
MacDonalds of Skye, in the MacDonald's battles with the
MacLeods.
The name of the chief of the clan in 1493 is unknown, though in 1515 the chief was Neil Mackinnon of Mishnish.
Two years later, in 1517, Neil and several others, described as "kin, men, servants and partakers" of Lauchlan Maclean of Duart, were included in a remission which was obtained for their part in the rebellion of Sir Donald Macdonald of Lochalsh.
[Anderson, pp. 28–29.] In 1545, Ewen, the chief of the clan, was one of the barons and council of the Isles who swore allegiance to the King of England, at Knockfergus in Ireland.
[Maclauchlan & Wilson & Keltie, pp. 256–258.] Donald Munro, High Dean of the Isles, in his ''A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland Called Hybrides'', in 1549, described the Mackinnon controlled lands at that time. On Skye were the lands of "Straytsnardill" (
Strathairdle, of which later Mackinnon chiefs were designated), and "the castill of
Dunnakyne perteining to Mackynnoun; the castill
Dunringill, perteining to the said Mackynnoun".
Munro also described the neighbouring island of
Pabay
Pabay is a Scottish island just off the coast of Skye. The name Pabay is derived from an old Norse word meaning "priest's isle" and there are the remains of a 13th-century chapel.
Geography
Pabay is an island in the Inner Sound of Skye, lying ...
as follows, "At the shore of Sky foresaid, lyes ane iyle callit Pabay, neyre ane myle in lenthe, full of woodes, guid for fishing, and a main shelter for thieves and cut-throats. It perteins to M’Kynnoun".
Of the island of Mull, Monro stated that, "this iyle pertains pairtly to
M’Gillayne of Doward, pairtly to
M’Gillayne of Lochbowy, pairtly to M’Kynnoun, and pairtly to the
Clandonald of awld".
[A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland Called Hybrides, by Sir Donald Monro](_blank)
Retrieved on 23 October 2007
In 1579, ''Fynnoun MacKynnoun'' of Strathardill, and his son ''Lachlane Oig'', were reported to
James VI
James is a common English language surname and given name:
*James (name), the typically masculine first name James
* James (surname), various people with the last name James
James or James City may also refer to:
People
* King James (disambiguat ...
, along with Maclaine of Lochbuie and the MacLeans, by John,
Bishop of the Isles
The Bishop of the Isles or Bishop of Sodor was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of the Isles (or Sodor), one of Scotland's thirteen medieval bishoprics. The bishopric, encompassing both the Hebrides and Mann, probably traces its origins as ...
.
[W & A K Johnston, p. 60.] The Bishop of the Isles complained to the Scots king that these men were preventing him from receiving the rents of his
See
See or SEE may refer to:
* Sight - seeing
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Music:
** ''See'' (album), studio album by rock band The Rascals
*** "See", song by The Rascals, on the album ''See''
** "See" (Tycho song), song by Tycho
* Television
* ...
.
According to MacLean family tradition, sometime after the battle of Lochgruinard in 1598, the MacLeans led by Hector MacLean invaded the MacDonald island of
Islay
Islay ( ; gd, Ìle, sco, Ila) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides", it lies in Argyll just south west of Jura, Scotland, Jura and around north of the Northern Irish coast. The isl ...
, accompanied with MacLeod of
Dunvegan
Dunvegan ( gd, Dùn Bheagain) is a village on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is famous for Dunvegan Castle, seat of the chief of Clan MacLeod. Dunvegan is within the parish of Duirinish, and Duirinish Parish Church is at Dunvegan. In 2011 it ...
, the Cameron of Lochiel, Mackinnon, and MacNiel of
Barra
Barra (; gd, Barraigh or ; sco, Barra) is an island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and the second southernmost inhabited island there, after the adjacent island of Vatersay to which it is connected by a short causeway. The island is na ...
, with their followers.
MacLean and his men engaged the MacDonalds "at a place called Bern Bige, attacked and defeated them, and afterwards ravaged the whole island in revenge for the slaughter of the Macleans at Lochgruinart".
[Gregory, pp. 285–286.]
On 12 July 1606
Lauchlan Mackinnon of Strathairdle and Finlay Macnab of Bowaine, entered into a Bond of Friendship and
Manrent
Manrent refers to a Scottish contract of the mid-15th century to the early 17th century, usually military in nature and involving Scottish clans. The bond of manrent was commonly an instrument in which a weaker man or clan pledged to serve, in r ...
.
In the bond the two chiefs claimed to "come from ane house and one lineage", and promised to lend aid to each other.
The chief of Clan Mackinnon signed his name, ''Lauchland, mise Mac Fingon''.
This bond was seen as further proof, by Skene, that the Mackinnons were descended from Siol Alpin.
Another bond of
manrent
Manrent refers to a Scottish contract of the mid-15th century to the early 17th century, usually military in nature and involving Scottish clans. The bond of manrent was commonly an instrument in which a weaker man or clan pledged to serve, in r ...
, this time between the Mackinnons and MacGregors, has also been seen as proof of a Siol Alpin descent.
On 1671, in Kilmorie, Lauchlan Mackinnon of Strahairdle and James Macgregor of Macgregor, entered into the bond, stating that the two chiefs descended "fra twa breethren of auld descent".
In 1609, the chief of the clan, ''Lauchlane McKynnoun of that Ilk'', was one of the highland chiefs and leading men who witnessed the statutes known as the
Statutes of Iona
The Statutes of Iona, passed in Scotland in 1609, required that Highland Scottish clan chiefs send their heirs to Lowland Scotland to be educated in English-speaking Protestant schools. As a result, some clans, such as the MacDonalds of Sleat and ...
, which were enacted to bring the
Western Isles
The Outer Hebrides () or Western Isles ( gd, Na h-Eileanan Siar or or ("islands of the strangers"); sco, Waster Isles), sometimes known as the Long Isle/Long Island ( gd, An t-Eilean Fada, links=no), is an island chain off the west coas ...
under the control of the
Scottish Government.
[''Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis'', p. 119.]
An indication of the relative extent of the estates of the three great chiefs of Skye at the end of the 17th century is afforded by the amount of rental for each: £7,000 for Macleod, £6,200 for Macdonald and £2,400 for Mackinnon.
Civil War
During the
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms were a series of related conflicts fought between 1639 and 1653 in the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland and Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland, then separate entities united in a pers ...
the Mackinnons followed the
Marquess of Montrose
A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...
, and took part in the
Battle of Inverlochy on 2 February 1645.
The chief of Clan Mackinnon, Lauchlan Mackinnon, raised a regiment in aid of
Charles II, and was present at the
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 in and around the city of Worcester, England and was the last major battle of the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A Parliamentarian army of around 28,000 under Oliver Cromwell def ...
. It is said that he was made a
Knight Banneret
A knight banneret, sometimes known simply as banneret, was a medieval knight ("a commoner of rank") who led a company of troops during time of war under his own banner (which was square-shaped, in contrast to the tapering standard or the penn ...
at this battle, though this is thought improbable as such a custom was by then very much obsolete.
(A ''knight banneret'' was created by a
sovereign
''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'.
The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...
on the field of battle and could lead
vassals
A vassal or liege subject is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerain. W ...
under his own banner).
[Titles of Nobility](_blank)
Retrieved on 27 October 2007
Jacobite uprisings
Although considered a relatively minor clan, it seems to have been of considerable strength.
Clan Mackinnon took part in the
Jacobite risings
, war =
, image = Prince James Francis Edward Stuart by Louis Gabriel Blanchet.jpg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = James Francis Edward Stuart, Jacobite claimant between 1701 and 1766
, active ...
, supporting the
Stuarts
The House of Stuart, originally spelt Stewart, was a royal house of Scotland, England, Ireland and later Great Britain. The family name comes from the office of High Steward of Scotland, which had been held by the family progenitor Walter fi ...
, in the 18th century. In 1715, 150 Mackinnons fought with the
Macdonalds of Sleat
McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hamburger st ...
, at the
Battle of Sherrifmuir.
Because of this the chief of the clan was forfeited, though he eventually received a pardon on 4 January 1727.
In the rebellion of 1745, the chief, then old and infirm, joined the forces of
Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (20 December 1720 – 30 January 1788) was the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart, grandson of James II and VII, and the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, Scotland and ...
(''Bonnie Prince Charlie'') with a battalion of men.
Lord President Duncan Forbes estimated that the Mackinnon force of that time was about 200 men.
[Allardyce, p. 169.] "Mackinnons – The Laird of Mackinnon is their Chief, who in Irish is called Mackenoin holds his Lands of the Crown both in the Isles of Skye and Mull and Can raise 200 Men." Following the defeat of the
Jacobites
Jacobite means follower of Jacob or James. Jacobite may refer to:
Religion
* Jacobites, followers of Saint Jacob Baradaeus (died 578). Churches in the Jacobite tradition and sometimes called Jacobite include:
** Syriac Orthodox Church, sometime ...
at Culloden, Charles Edward Stuart fled to the west coast of Scotland in order to flee to France. Tradition has the Mackinnons aiding the prince, with the chief concealing him in a cave, and the chief's wife bringing the prince refreshments of cold meat and wine.
The Mackinnon chief was later captured by Government troops and spent a year in confinement before being put on trial, with his life at stake, in
Tilbury Fort
Tilbury Fort, also known historically as the Thermitage Bulwark and the West Tilbury Blockhouse, is an artillery fort on the north bank of the River Thames in England. The earliest version of the fort, comprising a small blockhouse with artill ...
. Mackinnon was eventually spared his life and pardoned because of his advanced age, and it is said that upon leaving the
courtroom
A courtroom is the enclosed space in which courts of law are held in front of a judge. A number of courtrooms, which may also be known as "courts", may be housed in a courthouse. In recent years, courtrooms have been equipped with audiovisual ...
the
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.
In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
asked him "If
King George were in your power, as you have been in his, what would you do?", with Mackinnon replying, "I would do to him, as he has this day done to me; I would send him back to his own country". Because of the chief's support of the Jacobite rebellion they lost Strathardle in 1765, and have since been held landless in their ancient clan lands.
Modern history
The last chief of the senior line died unmarried in 1808; he was the great-grandson of John, elder son of Lachlan Mor who fought at the Battle of Worcester. The chiefship then passed to a representative of Lachlan Mor's second son, Donald. This Donald had apparently been taken prisoner at the Battle of Worcester and later traveled to the West Indies. It was his great-great-grandson,
William Alexander Mackinnon (1784–1870), who became thirty-third chief in 1808. A later attempt by the Mackinnons of
Corriechatachan
350px, Corriechatachan ruins, July 2003
Corriechatachan (Gaelic for “ Corrie of the wild cats”) is a farmstead (now ruined), lying at the foot of Beinn na Caillich, near Broadford, on the Isle of Skye. Until the 19th century, it was a tack f ...
(a cadet branch) to claim the chiefship generated a great deal of controversy and a certain amount of local support in Skye,
[Over 150 male clan members from Skye presented a "humble address" to Corriechatachan in 1848.] but proved ultimately fruitless. The thirty-fifth chief of the clan was
Francis Alexander Mackinnon. Today the current chief is Madam Anne Gunhild Mackinnon of Mackinnon, 38th Chief of the Name and Arms of Mackinnon, recognized by the Lord Lyon. She has two sons who are eligible upon her death to become chief under the blood line and providing they retain the MacKinnon name. In 2015 Madame Anne MacKinnon appointed Stephen MacKinnon of Massachusetts, U.S.A. as her representative of the Chief and is recognized as such by the Clan MacKinnon Society. She also appointed Stephen MacKinnon Chieftain of Mishnish.
Chief
The current
chieftess of Clan Mackinnon is Madame Anne Gunhild Mackinnon of Mackinnon, 38th Chief of the Name and Arms of Mackinnon.
The Antigua Chief of Mackinnon Madame Anne Gunheild Mackinnon of Mackinnon, 38th Chief is recognized by the Lord Lyon. While her outside contacts with Clan MacKinnon have been limited, the Clan MacKinnon Society made contact with her and she appointed in 2015 a Representative of the Chief, Stephen MacKinnon of Massachusetts, U.S.A. Stephen was also appointed at this time, Chieftain of Mishnish. Anne MacKinnon has never given up her position and in fact, has two sons who are eligible to inherit her title under the blood line and providing they retain the MacKinnon name.
Tartans
See also
*
Siol Alpin
Siol Alpin (from Gaelic, Sìol Ailpein: Seed of Alpin) is a family of seven Scottish clans traditionally claiming descent from Alpin, father of Cináed mac Ailpín, King of the Picts, of whom the Scots tradition considered the first King of Scot ...
*
Scottish clan
A Scottish clan (from Goidelic languages, Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official ...
Notes and references
Bibliography
*''The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans, With Notes, Library Edition''. W. & A. K. Johnston, Ltd.
*Allardyce, James (ed). ''Historical Papers Relating to the Jacobite Period, 1699–1750''. Aberdeen, 1895–96.
*Anderson, William. ''The Scottish Nation''. vol 3. Edinburgh & London: A. Fullarton & Co., 1863.
*Downie, Sir Alexander Mackenzie and Mackinnon, Alister Downie. ''Genealogical Account of the Family of Mackinnon, compiled many years ago from authentic records''. 2nd edition, Edward Stanford, London, 1883.
*
*Gregory, Donald. ''History Of The Western Highlands And Isles Of Scotland, From A.D. 1493 To A.D. 1625''. Edinburgh: William Tait, 1836.
*Mackinnon, Charles. ''Scottish Highlanders''. Barnes & Noble Publishing, 1995. .
*Maclauchlan, Thomas & Wilson, John & Keltie, John Scott. ''A History of the Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments''. Edinburgh and London: A. Fullarton & Co., 1875.
*
Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Sir Iain. ''The Highland Clans''. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1967.
*The Iona Club (ed). ''
Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis
The ''Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis'' was written by members of the Iona Club of Edinburgh in the 19th century. It contains a transcription and translation of the MS 1467 (then known as ''MS 1450''). The Iona Club was founded in 1833 by histori ...
''. Edinburgh: Thomas G. Stevenson, 1847.
*
J. Romilly Allen
John Romilly Allen FSA FSAScot (9 June 1847 – 5 July 1907) was a British archaeologist.
Life
Allen was the son of George Baugh Allen. He was educated at King's College School, Rugby and King's College London. In 1867 he was articled to G ...
. "The Early Christian Monuments of Iona". ''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland''. vol. 35, pp. 79–93. 1900–01.
*
Skene, William Forbes. ''The Highlanders of Scotland, Their Origin, History, And Antiquities''. London: John Murray, 1837.
*
Smibert, Thomas. ''The Clans of the Highlands of Scotland''. Edinburgh: James Hogg. 1850.
External links
The Clan Mackinnon Society
{{Scottish clans
Mackinnon
McKinnon, MacKinnon or Mackinnon is a Scottish surname. (Gaelic: ''Mac Fhionghain''),
Notable people with this surname include:
* Allan McKinnon, P.C., M.C., C.D. (1917–1990), Canadian politician, MP – Victoria 1972-1988
* Alexander "Alex" ...
Gaels