McKinnon
A Scottish Gaelic surname traditionally linked to Finghin/Fionghuin, meaning roughly “fair-born” or “son of the fair one.”
The #2,359 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 19,984 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The best-attested explanation traces McKinnon to Gaelic personal names such as M'Fhionghuin, M'Fhionnghuine, and related Irish forms Finghin/Finnguine. MacBain derives these from older elements meaning “fair” and “born,” giving the sense “fair-born” or “born of the fair one.” Older writers also noted other possible explanations, but this is the main scholarly derivation preserved in the historical sources here.
History
The name is strongly associated with the Scottish Highlands, where it appears in medieval and later Gaelic forms, including early documentary spellings like Macfingon. Over time it was anglicized as Mackinnon and McKinnon, and it became established both as a Highland clan surname and as a broader family name in Scotland and the diaspora. The historical record also shows some uncertainty in older philology, with alternative etymologies proposed but not generally preferred.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname is one of several Gaelic names whose older forms preserved the sound of the initial lenited consonants, which can make the medieval spellings look very different from the modern English form.
From the historical record
“Mackinlay, G. M'Fhionnla(idh) ; "from Pinlay. MACKINNON, G. M'Fhionghuin, M. G. Fionghuine, g. (M'V.), in Macfingon (1400), 0. G. Finguni, gen. (B. of Deer), Ir. Finghin, M. Ir. Finghin, Finnguine, E. Ir. Finguine : * Vimh- gonio-s, " fair-born " (fionn and gin) ; cf. for force and partial root Gr. KaWiyevr/s, and…”
— Etymology of the principal Gaelic national names, personal names, surnames