Clan Mackinnon

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Clan MacKinnon
Clann MacFhionghain
Scots Pine.[4]
Chief
Madam Anne Gunhild MacKinnon of MacKinnon
38th Chief of the Name and Arms of MacKinnon.[5] (Mac Fhionghain[1])
Historic seatCaisteal Maol
Septs of Clan MacKinnon
Love, Low, McInnon, MacKinning, MacKinven, MacMorran, MacSherrie, Sherrie, Sherry
Clan branches
MacKinnon of Borreraig
MacKinnon of Corriechatachan
MacKinnon of Elgol
Mackinnon of Gambell, Skye
Mackinnon of Keanouchrach (Chinn Uachdaraich), Scalpay, Inner Hebrides
Mackinnon of Kyle
Mackinnon of Mishnish, on Mull[6]
Allied clans
Clan MacDonald of Sleat
Rival clans
Clan MacLean

Clan MacKinnon (

Skye, in the Inner Hebrides
.

Popular tradition gives the clan a

arms bore the hand of the saint holding the Cross, and the several Mackinnon abbots of Iona.[9]

Though little is known of the early history of the clan, it is likely to have served under the Lords of the Isles.

Bonnie Prince Charlie in his flight to France.[11] Because of their support for the last Jacobite rising the MacKinnon chiefs lost the last of their ancient clan lands.[11]

History

A proposed descent of the seven clans of Siol Alpin
A Victorian era, romanticised depiction of a member of the clan by R. R. McIan, from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, published in 1845.

Myth and legend

Caisteal Maol near Kyleakin.
Beinn na Caillich and Goir a' Bhlair

According to legend, the castle of Dunakin (today known as

Broadford.[13]

Origin of the name

The

Modern Irish is Findgaine.[15] These names are thought to derive from the prehistoric Gaelic Vindo-gonio-s (translation: "fair-born").[15] The Anglicised MacKinnon can also derive from the Gaelic Mac Ionmhuinn, a similar patronymic name meaning "son of the beloved one".[14] In consequence some "Mackinvens" have Anglicised their name to Love or Low (however most Love or Low surnames are not derived this way, having no connection with the MacKinnons).[15]

Wars of Scottish Independence

According to the Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia the Mackinnons gave shelter to

Isle of Skye.[17] The Mackinnon chiefs then lived at Dunringall Castle and were styled "of Strathardale".[17]

Origins of the clan

Little is known of the early history of the clan.

italics): Niall, son of Colum, son of Gillabrigde, son of Eogan, son of Gillabrigde, son of Saineagain, son of Finlaeie, son of Finguine, from whom sprung clanfinguin, son of Cormac, son of Airbertaig, son of Muircheach, son of Fearchair oig.[18]

According to the historian

hanged for his part.[19] The Green Abbot himself, was spared only because he was a churchman, and spent the rest of his life imprisoned on Iona by the Macdonalds.[19]

The earliest record of the Mackinnons is of Lachlan Makfingane, who witnessed a charter by

Donald de Ile, dominus Insularum, to Hector Macgilleone, dominus de Doward, on 1 November 1409.[15] Later in 1467, Lachlann M'Fynwyn de Myschenys, witnessed a charter by the Lord of the Isles.[15] According to the 17th century MacDonald manuscript, in a description of the Lord of the Isles' Council of the Isles, "MacFinnon was obliged to see weights and measures adjusted".[20]

The chief's

boar's head erased, argent, holding in its mouth a deer's shankbone, proper.[4] A Mackinnon legend that is supposed to explain the chief's crest is of a Mackinnon who was hunting on the shores of Loch Scavaig in Skye. After becoming separated from his hunting party the Mackinnon spent the night in a cave for shelter. While preparing some venison which he was about to cook over an open fire he was attacked by a wild boar which charged into the cave. Mackinnon then drove the butchered deer's leg into the mouth of the boar, jamming it open, before killing the wild animal.[21]

Abbacy of Iona

MacKinnon's Cross, Iona

The early clan seems to have had a close connection with the abbacy on the small

monastic community on the island of Iona. Finghuine MacFhionghain (fl. 1357–1405), and Eoin MacFhionghain (John MacKinnon, son of Lachlan MacKinnon) (1467–1498) who was the last Benedictine Abbot of Iona. His tomb lies in Iona to this day, along with the shaft of a Celtic cross, known today as 'MacKinnon's Cross', dedicated in 1489 to himself and his father (Lauchlan),[22][23] which is inscribed: "Hec Fingone: et: eivs: filii: Johannis: X: abbatis de Hy: facta: anno: Domini: måccccålxxxåixå".[15]

16th and 17th centuries

The Mackinnons regularly feuded with the

M’Gillayne of Doward, pairtly to M’Gillayne of Lochbowy, pairtly to M’Kynnoun, and pairtly to the Clandonald of awld".[26]

In 1579, Fynnoun MacKynnoun of Strathardill, and his son Lachlane Oig, were reported to

James VI, along with Maclaine of Lochbuie and the MacLeans, by John, Bishop of the Isles.[27] The Bishop of the Isles complained to the Scots king that these men were preventing him from receiving the rents of his See.[27] According to MacLean family tradition, sometime after the battle of Lochgruinard in 1598, the MacLeans led by Hector MacLean invaded the MacDonald island of Islay, accompanied with MacLeod of Dunvegan, the Cameron of Lochiel, Mackinnon, and MacNiel of Barra, with their followers.[27][28] MacLean and his men engaged the MacDonalds "at a place called Bern Bige, attacked and defeated them, and afterwards ravaged the whole island in revenge for the slaughter of the Macleans at Lochgruinart".[28]

On 12 July 1606

Western Isles under the control of the Scottish Government.[29]

An indication of the relative extent of the estates of the three great chiefs of Skye at the end of the 17th century is afforded by the amount of rental for each: £7,000 for Macleod, £6,200 for Macdonald and £2,400 for Mackinnon[30] (at a time when 12 Scottish pounds were approximately equivalent to one English pound sterling).

Civil War

During the

vassals under his own banner).[31]

Jacobite uprisings

Although considered a relatively minor clan, it seems to have been of considerable strength.

Duncan Forbes estimated that the Mackinnon force of that time was about 200 men.[32] "Mackinnons – The Laird of Mackinnon is their Chief, who in Irish is called Mackenoin holds his Lands of the Crown both in the Isles of Skye and Mull and Can raise 200 Men." Following the defeat of the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden, Charles Edward Stuart fled to the west coast of Scotland in order to flee to France. Tradition has the Mackinnons aiding the prince, with the chief concealing him in a cave, and the chief's wife bringing the prince refreshments of cold meat and wine.[25]

The Mackinnon chief was later captured by Government troops and spent a year in confinement before being put on trial, with his life at stake, in Tilbury Fort.[11] Mackinnon was eventually spared his life and pardoned because of his advanced age. It is said, though, that upon leaving the courtroom the Attorney General, Sir Dudley Ryder, asked Mackinnon, "If King George were in your power, as you have been in his, what would you do?" Mackinnon replied, "I would do to him, as he has this day done to me; I would send him back to his own country".[11] Because of the chief's support of the Jacobite rebellion they lost Strathardle in 1765, and have since been held landless in their ancient clan lands.[11]

Modern history

The last chief of the senior line died unmarried in 1808; he was the great-grandson of John, elder son of Lachlan Mor who fought at the Battle of Worcester.

William Alexander Mackinnon (1784–1870)|William Alexander Mackinnon, who became thirty-third chief in 1808.[11] A later attempt by the Mackinnons of Corriechatachan (a cadet branch) to claim the chiefship generated a great deal of controversy and a certain amount of local support in Skye,[33] but proved ultimately fruitless. The thirty-fifth chief of the clan was Francis Alexander Mackinnon
. Today the current chief is Madam Anne Gunhild Mackinnon of Mackinnon, 38th Chief of the Name and Arms of Mackinnon, recognized by the Lord Lyon. She has two sons who are eligible upon her death to become chief under the blood line and providing they retain the MacKinnon name. In 2015 Madame Anne MacKinnon appointed Stephen MacKinnon of Massachusetts, U.S.A. as her representative of the Chief and is recognized as such by the Clan MacKinnon Society. She also appointed Stephen MacKinnon Chieftain of Mishnish.

Chief

The current

chieftess of Clan Mackinnon is Madame Anne Gunhild Mackinnon of Mackinnon, 38th Chief of the Name and Arms of Mackinnon.[5]
The Antigua Chief of Mackinnon Madame Anne Gunheild Mackinnon of Mackinnon, 38th Chief is recognized by the Lord Lyon. While her outside contacts with Clan MacKinnon have been limited, the Clan MacKinnon Society made contact with her and she appointed in 2015 a Representative of the Chief, Stephen MacKinnon of Massachusetts, U.S.A. Stephen was also appointed at this time, Chieftain of Mishnish. Anne MacKinnon has never given up her position and in fact, has two sons who are eligible to inherit her title under the blood line and providing they retain the MacKinnon name.

Tartans

Tartan image Notes
Clan Mackinnon tartan as published in the Vestiarium Scoticum in 1842. Today there are many different tartans attributed to the Mackinnons.
Mackinnon Hunting tartan. This modern tartan was registered with
Lyon Court in 1960, and is based upon the Mackinnon tartan found in the dubious Vestiarium Scoticum.[34]
The MacKinnon Hunting Modern tartan
Lyon Court in 1960 with a letter from 'The Mackinnon of Mackinnon', advising 'the correct setts for the Clan and Hunting Tartans of the Clan Mackinnon.'[36]
 (STA ref: 1641).

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^
    docx). Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
    . Retrieved 15 October 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Smibert, pp. 145–147.
  3. ^ MacKinnon, pp. 192–195.
  4. ^ a b c The Highland Clans of Scotland Retrieved on 27 October 2007
  5. ^ a b "MACKINNON OF MACKINNON, CHIEF OF MACKINNON". Retrieved 23 October 2007.
  6. ^ All referred to in Downie and Mackinnon's Genealogical Account of the Family of Mackinnon (2nd edition, Edward Stanford, London, 1883).
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Skene, pp. 258–260.
  8. ^ Johnston, Ian. "First king of the Scots? Actually he was a Pict" Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine. The Scotsman. 2 October 2004. Retrieved on 16 November 2007
  9. ^ a b c Moncreiffe, pp. 70–71.
  10. ^ a b c d e Gregory, pp. 80–81.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h Eyre-Todd 1923.
  12. ^ a b c d Mackinnon Gazetteer Key Retrieved on 27 October 2007
  13. ^ Site Record for Skye, Goir A' Bhlair, Broadford. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.
  14. ^ a b Name Meanings Ancestry.com. Retrieved on 23 October 2007
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Byars, pp. 246–247.
  16. ^ Annals of the Four Masters. M964.3 Retrieved on 18 November 2007 Fínghin, angcoire & epscop Ia, d'écc.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 228–229.
  18. ^ Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, pp. 56–67.
  19. ^ a b c d Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, pp. 303–304.
  20. ^ Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, pp. 296–297.
  21. ^ Mackinnon, pp. 192–195.
  22. ^ THE CLAN MACKINNON Archived 27 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 27 October 2007
  23. ^ Allen, pp. 79–93.
  24. ^ Anderson, pp. 28–29.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Maclauchlan & Wilson & Keltie, pp. 256–258.
  26. ^ a b c A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland Called Hybrides, by Sir Donald Monro Retrieved on 23 October 2007
  27. ^ a b c W & A K Johnston, p. 60.
  28. ^ a b Gregory, pp. 285–286.
  29. ^ Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, p. 119.
  30. ^ Alexander Nicolson, History of Skye (3rd edition, Islands Book Trust, 2012), at page 128.
  31. ^ Titles of Nobility Retrieved on 27 October 2007
  32. ^ Allardyce, p. 169.
  33. ^ Over 150 male clan members from Skye presented a "humble address" to Corriechatachan in 1848.
  34. ^ Mackinnon Hunting Clan Tartan WR917 Retrieved on 20 November 2007
  35. ^ Mackinnon Tartans Retrieved on 11 May 2023
  36. ^ Tartan Details - MacKinnon Hunting #3 Retrieved on 11 May 2023

Bibliography

External links

Media related to Clan Mackinnon at Wikimedia Commons

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