Mackinnon Ancient Clan Collection

I. Introduction

In the windswept annals of Scottish history, the ancient Clan MacKinnon stands as a proud sentinel of the Highlands and Islands, their story interwoven with the rugged beauty of Mull and Skye. Emerging from the mists of Gaelic antiquity, the MacKinnons embody the resilience, loyalty, and fierce independence that define Scotland’s noble clans. Theirs is a tale of seafaring prowess, royal lineage, and unyielding spirit, etched into the very stones of their ancestral lands.

II. Origins of the Ancient Clan MacKinnon

The name MacKinnon, derived from the Gaelic "MacFhionghuin"—"son of the fair-born"—evokes a heritage of nobility and grace. The clan claims descent from the illustrious Siol Alpin, a lineage tied to Alpin, father of Cináed mac Ailpín, the 9th-century king often hailed as Scotland’s unifier. This connection, championed by historian W.F. Skene, places the MacKinnons among the seven clans of Alpin’s seed, a prestigious origin rooted in the ancient kingdom of Dál Riata. Some traditions, bolstered by Sir Iain Moncreiffe, suggest an ecclesiastical link to Saint Columba, the missionary who planted Christianity in Scotland, with the clan’s early ties to Iona’s abbots hinting at a sacred dimension to their identity.

The first historical whisper of the MacKinnons emerges in 1409, when Lachlan Makfingane attested a charter under Donald, Lord of the Isles. From these beginnings, the clan rose as stewards of the Hebrides, their destiny shaped by the tides and tempests of their island realm.

III. Historical Evolution of the Ancient Clan MacKinnon

A. Roots in the Lordship of the Isles

The medieval era saw Clan MacKinnon thrive within the Gaelic dominion of the Lords of the Isles, a maritime power that ruled the western seas. Holding lands on Mull and Skye, including the formidable Dunakin Castle—a toll-collecting fortress on a rocky promontory—the MacKinnons wielded influence as trusted vassals. A 17th-century MacDonald manuscript records their hereditary role on the Council of the Isles, adjusting weights and measures, a duty that underscored their integrity and authority. After the Lordship’s collapse in 1493, the clan navigated shifting alliances, often siding with the MacLeans of Duart, though their loyalty occasionally veered toward the MacDonalds of Sleat in regional feuds.

B. The Jacobite Cause and Its Cost

The MacKinnons’ fervor blazed brightest during the Jacobite risings, their devotion to the Stuart dynasty defining their later history. In 1715, 150 clansmen fought at Sheriffmuir under the Old Pretender, James Stuart, only to see their chief’s lands forfeited—though pardoned in 1727. The clan’s defining moment came in 1745, when Iain Og MacKinnon, an elderly chief, rallied 200 warriors to support Bonnie Prince Charlie. After the slaughter at Culloden in 1746, Iain Og sheltered the fugitive prince and rowed him toward safety, an act of gallantry that led to his arrest and four years aboard a prison hulk. His sacrifice cemented the clan’s reputation as fearless defenders of their ideals.

C. Decline and Diaspora

The post-Jacobite era brought hardship. By the early 19th century, debts stripped the MacKinnons of their ancestral estates, and the chiefly line faltered. In 1811, William Mackinnon of Antigua, from a cadet branch, was recognized as the 33rd Chief by the Lord Lyon, marking a pivot to the New World. Today, the Clan MacKinnon Society, reborn in 1980, unites descendants across the globe, preserving a legacy that refuses to fade.

IV. Clan MacKinnon Crest and Motto

A. Crest Symbolism

The ancient MacKinnon crest—a boar’s head erased, argent, clutching a deer’s shankbone—tells a tale of survival and triumph. Legend recountsMc a clansman, lost near Loch Scavaig, who slew an attacking boar with a venison bone as he cooked in a cave. The boar signifies ferocity and courage, while the shankbone reflects ingenuity, echoing the clan’s resourcefulness amid the wilds of Skye.

B. Clan Motto

"Audentes Fortuna Juvat"—"Fortune favors the bold"—rings as the clan’s clarion call, a motto mirrored in their daring exploits, from toll enforcement at Dunakin to their Jacobite stand. Paired with the war cry "Cuimhnich Bas Alpin" ("Remember the death of Alpin"), it invokes their ancient lineage, urging clansfolk to honor their forebears’ sacrifices with audacity.

V. Clan MacKinnon Tartan

As an ancient clan, the MacKinnons claim a tartan heritage both contested and cherished. The Vestiarium Scoticum of 1842, though suspect, offered an early MacKinnon pattern, while a modern hunting tartan—registered in 1960—blends earthy browns, greens, and reds, evoking their island roots. Variants like the MacKinnon Red Ancient weave a vivid thread, allowing clansfolk to drape themselves in the colors of their storied past.

VI. Prominent Figures of the Ancient Clan MacKinnon

A. Iain Og MacKinnon (d. post-1746)

The aged chief of 1745, Iain Og’s leadership at Culloden and aid to Bonnie Prince Charlie immortalized him as a Jacobite hero. Imprisoned yet defiant, his quip to George II—that he’d repay royal “mercy” by sending the king to Germany—captures his unbowed spirit.

B. Sir Lachlan Mor MacKinnon (d. circa 1651)

Knighted by Charles II, Lachlan Mor, the 28th chief, led the clan during the civil wars, his loyalty to the Stuarts forging a legacy of honor. His tenure marked a high point of MacKinnon influence before the tides of change swept in.

VII. Conclusion

From their shadowy origins in Dál Riata to their valiant stand in the Jacobite twilight, the ancient Clan MacKinnon weaves a narrative of boldness and endurance. Their crest and motto, their tartans and tales, paint a portrait of a people who met adversity with grit and grace. As their legacy ripples through time, carried by descendants and celebrated by admirers, the MacKinnons remain a luminous strand in Scotland’s historical tapestry, their ancient valor undimmed by the centuries.