Mackinnon

Gaelic Name: MacFhionghuin

Clan Motto: Audentes Fortuna Juvat (Fortune assists the daring/Fortune favours the bold)

Origin of Name: Gaelic, ‘Son of the fair born’

Clan Badge: Pine

Lands: Mull and Skye

Clan Chief: Madam Ann MacKinnon of MacKinnon

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MacKinnon Clan History

The MacKinnons claim descent from Kenneth MacAlpine's royal family. The clan slogan "Cumnich Bas Alpin" or "Remember the death of Alpin" refers to Kenneth's great-grandson, who was killed by Bruch, King of the Picts, in 837. His son Fingon, or "fair-born," is regarded as the clan's progenitor.

The MacKinnons held lands on Mull and Skye, including Dunakin Castle, a broch commanding the narrow sound between Skye and the mainland. They were an enterprising family even in their early days, and from Dunakin they ran a heavy chain across the sound and levied a charge on all passing ships.

The MacKinnon clan had regular feuds with their neighbors, the MacLeans, though they did not always resort to bloodshed to gain the upper hand.

On one notable occasion, the MacLean clansmen took control of the MacKinnon lands on Mull and celebrated with a grand feast. While they were drunk, the MacKinnon chief and his clansmen each cut a fir tree and placed it in the feasting hall. When the MacLeans awoke to find themselves surrounded by the MacKinnon plant badge, they realized they were in danger and quickly withdrew from the MacKinnon lands.

The clan MacKinnon has long been known for its devotion to the Stewart monarchy, and they were 'out' in the Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745. After the defeat at Culloden, Iain Og, the chief of the MacKinnons, sheltered and assisted Charles Edward Stewart in his escape, despite the fact that he was over seventy years old at the time. When he returned from his adventure, he was apprehended and imprisoned on a prison ship for four years.

MacKinnon Places & People

People of Clan MacKinnon

John MacKinnon died in 1550.

Served as the last hereditary Abbot of Iona, Scotland's holiest island.

Don MacKinnon (born 1939) is a Canadian actor.

He was a New Zealand politician who rose to become Deputy Prime Minister in 1990.

MacKinnon Tartans

Ancient MacKinnon

Modern MacKinnon

MacKinnon's Ancient Hunt

Modern MacKinnon Hunting

MacKinnon Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan MacKinnon Crest

Coats of Arms of MacKinnon

A word about Coats of Arms:

Under Scottish heraldic law a coat of arms is awarded to an individual (with the exception of civic or corporate arms) . A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.

MacKINNON (MacKinnon)

Quarterly, 1st, Vert, a couped boar's head, Argent, holding a shin-bone in the mouth; 2nd, Argent, a tower, triple-towered; A lymphad, Gules, third; 4th, Argent, from the sinister, Proper, a man's arm couped below the wrist, grasping a cross crosslet fitchée, Sable.