UK surname
A surname of Scottish origin meaning "son of the little Angus".
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Macinnis surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kilmallie and Ardgour, Warkworth and Kilfinichen and Iona. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macinnis is 144 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.8%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1851
144 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Macinnis surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Macinnis surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 144 | #13,277 |
| 1861 | historical | 44 | #28,433 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 22 | #32,449 |
| 1901 | historical | 8 | #33,289 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 14 | #37,124 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kilmallie and Ardgour, Warkworth, Kilfinichen and Iona, Kilmuir and Barra. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilmallie and Ardgour | Inverness |
| 2 | Warkworth | Northumberland |
| 3 | Kilfinichen and Iona | Argyll |
| 4 | Kilmuir | Inverness |
| 5 | Barra | Inverness |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Macinnis surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Macinnis, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Macinnis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Macinnis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Macinnis is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Macinnis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Macinnis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MacInnis is of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the personal name Angus, with the prefix 'Mac' meaning 'son of'. It first appeared in the Highlands and Islands of western Scotland during the late medieval period.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Black Book of Taymouth, a manuscript dating back to the late 15th century, where it appears as 'MacAngus'. This suggests the name originated as a patronymic, referring to the son of a man named Angus.
In the 16th century, the name is recorded in various forms, such as 'M'Ingnis', 'McIngneis', and 'McIngneis', reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. The modern spelling 'MacInnis' became standardized in the 18th century.
One of the earliest documented individuals bearing this surname was Donald MacInnis, who was recorded as a resident of the Isle of Mull in the 1560s. In the 17th century, Angus MacInnis was a prominent figure in the Clan MacLeod, serving as a trusted adviser to the chief.
The surname is particularly associated with the Isle of Skye and the Outer Hebrides, where it was historically well-represented. Notable individuals with this surname include:
1. Archibald MacInnis (1789-1861), a Scottish-born Canadian settler and farmer in Nova Scotia. 2. Donald MacInnis (1824-1876), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician in Prince Edward Island. 3. Thomas Robert MacInnis (1867-1951), a Canadian politician and member of parliament from Nova Scotia. 4. Grace MacInnis (1905-1991), a Canadian politician and social activist, known for her work in promoting women's rights and social justice. 5. Lorne MacInnis (1913-1980), a Canadian politician and member of parliament from British Columbia, known for his advocacy of labor rights.
The surname MacInnis has been present in various parts of Scotland and Canada for several centuries, reflecting the migration patterns of Scottish Highlanders and their descendants.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macinnis surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Inverness-shire leads with 15 Macinnis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 321.89x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Inverness-shire | 15 | 321.89x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Uist in Inverness-shire leads with 8 Macinnis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4444.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| North Uist | 8 | 4444.44x |
| Barra | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 29.15x |
| Harris | 1 | 434.78x |
| Kilmuir | 1 | 714.29x |
| South Uist | 1 | 303.03x |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Macinnis surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 1 |
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Macinnis households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Sailor In Yacht | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Macinnis surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Macinnis a modern rank of #37,278.
A surname of Scottish origin meaning "son of the little Angus".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Macinnis bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.