Macinnis
A surname of Scottish origin meaning "son of the little Angus".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 891 Americans carry the last name Macinnis. That puts it at #30,420 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.26 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 384,685 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Macinnis surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
891
1 in 384,685
Census rank
#30,420
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
768
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 768 bearers of the surname Macinnis in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.26 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 30420th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Macinnis, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Macinnis
The 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Macinnis
Among Census respondents with the surname Macinnis, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Macinnis bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Macinnis surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.8%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Macinnis surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,420 | #30,420 | 0.0% |
| Count | 768 | 768 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.26 | 0.26 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Macinnis bearers went from 768 to 768 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #30,420 to #30,420.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Macinnis
FAQ
Macinnis surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Macinnis?
The surname Macinnis holds position #30,420 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 891 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.26 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Macinnis surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Macinnis, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (1.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.