NameCensus.

UK surname

Mackinnon

A Scottish surname referring to the son of Fingon or Cináed, both meaning "fair born" or "born of fire."

In the 1881 census there were 1,304 people recorded with the Mackinnon surname, ranking it #3,139 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,759, ranked #1,166, up from #3,139 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duirnish, Strath and Tiree and Coll. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Skye South, Barra and South Uist and Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mackinnon is 5,759 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 341.6%.

1881 census count

1,304

Ranked #3,139

Modern count

5,759

2016, ranked #1,166

Peak year

2016

5,759 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mackinnon had 1,304 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,139 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,759 in 2016, ranked #1,166.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,909 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mackinnon surname distribution map

The map shows where the Mackinnon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Mackinnon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mackinnon over time

The 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 908 #3,034
1861 historical 1,129 #2,484
1881 historical 1,304 #3,139
1891 historical 1,655 #2,712
1901 historical 1,909 #2,765
1911 historical 374 #9,770
1997 modern 4,870 #1,346
1998 modern 5,133 #1,322
1999 modern 5,118 #1,337
2000 modern 5,273 #1,287
2001 modern 5,106 #1,300
2002 modern 5,265 #1,292
2003 modern 5,154 #1,287
2004 modern 5,029 #1,314
2005 modern 5,046 #1,299
2006 modern 5,127 #1,273
2007 modern 5,142 #1,283
2008 modern 5,214 #1,277
2009 modern 5,303 #1,286
2010 modern 5,448 #1,280
2011 modern 5,339 #1,287
2012 modern 5,431 #1,234
2013 modern 5,622 #1,206
2014 modern 5,717 #1,194
2015 modern 5,723 #1,178
2016 modern 5,759 #1,166

Geography

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Where Mackinnons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duirnish, Strath, Tiree and Coll, Barra and South Uist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Skye South, Barra and South Uist, Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree, Harris and Skye North West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Duirnish Inverness
2 Strath Inverness
3 Tiree and Coll Argyll
4 Barra Inverness
5 South Uist Inverness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Skye South Highland
2 Barra and South Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute
4 Harris Na h-Eileanan Siar
5 Skye North West Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mackinnon

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mackinnon surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mackinnon

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mackinnon, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mackinnon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mackinnon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mackinnon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mackinnon is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mackinnon falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mackinnon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mackinnon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mackinnon

The surname MacKinnon originated in Scotland, with the earliest known records dating back to the late 13th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Ionmhuinn," which translates to "son of the beloved one." It is believed that the MacKinnons were originally a branch of the larger Clan Donald, one of the most prominent clans in the Scottish Highlands.

The MacKinnons were historically centered in the Hebrides, an archipelago off the western coast of Scotland. They held lands on the islands of Mull, Iona, and Skye, as well as in the mainland region of Kintyre. The name is thought to have first appeared in written records around 1292, when a Gillecalum M'Cenychin is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland.

One of the earliest notable figures associated with the MacKinnon name was John MacKinnon, who lived in the late 14th century and served as the Chief of the Clan MacKinnon. He is recorded as having been present at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, which was a significant conflict between the forces of the Duke of Albany and the Earl of Mar.

Another prominent MacKinnon was Lachlan Mor MacKinnon, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a respected clan chief and is credited with establishing the MacKinnon seat at Kilmorie on the Isle of Skye. Lachlan Mor was also involved in the political and military affairs of the time, supporting the Royalist cause during the Scottish Civil War.

In the 18th century, Daniel MacKinnon (1722-1797) was a notable figure who served as a captain in the British Royal Navy. He participated in several significant naval battles during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the MacKinnon name was Sir William Alexander Mackinnon (1832-1897), a Scottish businessman and politician. He co-founded the British India Steam Navigation Company and was instrumental in the development of trade and transportation routes between Britain and its colonies. Mackinnon was also a member of the British Parliament and was knighted for his contributions to the British Empire.

Throughout history, the MacKinnon surname has been spelled in various ways, including MacKinnon, MacKynnon, MacKinon, and MacKinnen, among others. This diversity in spelling reflects the evolution of the name over time and its adaptation to different regions and dialects within Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mackinnon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mackinnon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Inverness-shire leads with 557 Mackinnons recorded in 1881 and an index of 177.69x.

County Total Index
Inverness-shire 557 177.69x
Argyllshire 182 62.29x
Middlesex 50 0.48x
Midlothian 48 3.41x
Ross-shire 43 14.92x
Renfrewshire 36 4.43x
Lanarkshire 26 0.77x
Lancashire 17 0.14x
Buteshire 16 25.16x
Surrey 13 0.25x
Hampshire 10 0.46x
Kent 10 0.28x
Sutherland 9 11.15x
Ayrshire 8 1.02x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.62x
Sussex 6 0.34x
Warwickshire 5 0.19x
Channel Islands 4 1.29x
Essex 4 0.19x
Morayshire 3 1.84x
Stirlingshire 3 0.77x
Yorkshire 3 0.03x
Cheshire 2 0.09x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.71x
Oxfordshire 2 0.31x
Perthshire 2 0.42x
Banffshire 1 0.46x
Dorset 1 0.15x
Durham 1 0.03x
Fife 1 0.16x
Hertfordshire 1 0.14x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x
Nairnshire 1 3.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Harris in Inverness-shire leads with 197 Mackinnons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1250.79x.

Place Total Index
Harris 197 1250.79x
Tyree 107 1076.46x
South Uist 97 443.53x
Portree 59 508.62x
Kilninian Kilmore 51 569.20x
Duirinish 44 275.34x
Strath 41 430.22x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 32 5.66x
Sleat 28 375.34x
Lochs 26 113.29x
Govan 21 2.50x
Islington London 21 2.06x
Barra 18 229.89x
St George Hanover 17 12.41x
Cathcart 15 34.08x
North Uist 15 122.65x
Inverness 14 17.76x
East Greenock 13 16.92x
Trumisgarry 12 378.55x
Rothesay 11 35.71x
Kilmuir 9 97.61x
Bernera 8 490.80x
Campbeltown 8 22.70x
Kilmorack 8 84.21x
Colinton 7 44.64x
Dreghorn 7 49.23x
Creich 6 74.63x
Hound 6 41.10x
Littlehampton 6 42.46x
West Greenock 6 4.11x
Acrise 5 632.91x
Birmingham 5 0.57x
Fodderty 5 68.59x
Kilbride 5 63.86x
Kilmore Kilbride 5 26.95x
Kirkdale 5 2.39x
Toxteth Park 5 1.19x
Ealing 4 4.26x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 4 12.03x
Kilfinichen 4 55.33x
Petty 4 72.73x
Urmston 4 49.51x
West Ham 4 0.87x
Barony 3 0.35x
Camberwell 3 0.45x
Elgin 3 9.45x
Kensington London 3 0.51x
Lambeth 3 0.33x
Lochalsh 3 40.49x
Stoke Newington London 3 3.67x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 0.99x
Aldershot 2 2.78x
Ash Normandy 2 28.78x
Dunoon Kilmun 2 8.78x
Eastwood 2 3.99x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 2 20.53x
Gairloch 2 12.04x
Greenwich 2 1.20x
Ham Kingston On Thames 2 88.89x
Kilcalmonell 2 30.26x
Knockbain 2 29.67x
Lairg 2 40.73x
Liberton 2 9.22x
Liverpool 2 0.26x
Shanklin 2 31.20x
Snizort 2 25.58x
St Helier 2 1.98x
St Peter Port 2 3.48x
Tyrie 2 16.39x
Urray 2 22.35x
Arrochar 1 53.76x
Buchanan 1 50.51x
Cadder 1 3.99x
Clayworth 1 63.29x
Holywell 1 32.89x
Monzievaird Strowan 1 39.68x
Mortlake 1 4.39x
Richmond 1 1.40x
St Albans St Peter 1 4.10x
Stow 1 13.83x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mackinnon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mackinnon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 7
Charles 4
John 4
Daniel 3
Donald 3
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Adam 1
Alan 1
Albert 1
Alex.K. 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Archibald 1
Carleton 1
Duncan 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Horatio 1
James 1
L. 1
Lachlan 1
Lauchlan 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Ranaid 1
Rodrick 1
Wm. 1
Wm.M. 1

FAQ

Mackinnon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mackinnon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,304 people were recorded with the Mackinnon surname. That placed it at #3,139 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mackinnon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,759 in 2016. That gives Mackinnon a modern rank of #1,166.

What does the Mackinnon surname mean?

A Scottish surname referring to the son of Fingon or Cináed, both meaning "fair born" or "born of fire."

What does the Mackinnon map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mackinnon bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.