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

McKinnon, 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 McKinnon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McKinnon in America

McKinnon is the 2359th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McKinnon surname appeared 15,450 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname McKinnon.

We can also compare 2010 data for McKinnon 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 McKinnon

The surname McKinnon is of Scottish origin and dates back to the medieval era, emerging around the 12th century. It originated from the Gaelic "Mac Ionmhuinn," meaning "son of the beloved one." The name was initially found in the areas of Argyll, near the town of Lochgilphead, and the neighboring islands of Islay, Jura, and Mull.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest mentions is in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, which refer to a "Gillecrist MacInamin." The name is also found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which list individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, including "Gilleconil Makinnoyn" from the county of Argyll.

In the 16th century, the McKinnons were a prominent clan in the Hebrides islands, particularly on the Isle of Skye. They were known for their involvement in the clan feuds and battles that were common during that period. One notable figure was John McKinnon, also known as "Iain Og," who served as the clan chief in the late 16th century.

The McKinnons were also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Kinnon's Loch and Kinnon's Burn on the Isle of Islay. The name also had various spellings over time, including McKinnon, MacKinnon, McKinnon, and McKynnon.

Among the notable individuals bearing the McKinnon surname throughout history are:

1. Daniel McKinnon (1836-1888), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Marquette.
2. Ranald McKinnon (1839-1926), a Scottish-Canadian explorer and trader who played a significant role in the exploration of the Canadian Arctic.
3. Neil McKinnon (1900-1953), a Scottish footballer who played for clubs like Rangers and Partick Thistle in the early 20th century.
4. Kenneth McKinnon (1920-1999), a British actor known for his roles in films like "The Prisoner of Zenda" and television series like "The Saint."
5. Alex McKinnon (born 1992), an Australian former professional rugby league player who played for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League.

The McKinnon surname has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, with its origins dating back to the medieval era. It has been borne by notable individuals across various fields, including politics, exploration, sports, and entertainment.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McKinnon

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

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 McKinnon 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 McKinnon 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 McKinnon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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