Find out how popular the last name MacKinnon is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named MacKinnon.

MacKinnon, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the MacKinnon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of MacKinnon in America

MacKinnon is the 7882nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The MacKinnon surname appeared 4,199 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname MacKinnon.

We can also compare 2010 data for MacKinnon to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name MacKinnon

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname MacKinnon.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for MacKinnon was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of MacKinnon has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name MacKinnon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of MacKinnon, please contact us.

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