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 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McKinnon surname appeared 123 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname McKinnon.

The history of the last name McKinnon

The surname McKinon has its origins in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is a variant spelling of the name MacKinnon, which is derived from the Gaelic name Finnan or Fionnán, meaning "fair" or "white." The name was closely associated with the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides.

The earliest known record of the name McKinon can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1263, where a person named Finlaus Mackynon is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been established by that time. Over the centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, including MacKinnon, McKinnon, and McKinon.

One notable historical figure bearing the McKinon name was John McKinon, a Scottish poet and writer who lived in the 17th century. His works, though not widely known today, provide valuable insights into the literary traditions of his time. Another individual of note was Alexander McKinon, a prominent merchant and landowner in the 18th century who played a significant role in the development of Glasgow's trade and industry.

In the realm of place names, the surname McKinon has been associated with the islands of Strathnaver and Skye, where the clan MacKinnon held lands. The place name Kinon, derived from the Gaelic "Cinn an Fhìon" meaning "the head of the marshes," is believed to be linked to the McKinon surname.

Among the earliest recorded examples of the surname, we find Angus McKinon, born in 1587 on the Isle of Mull, who served as a notable clan chief. Another noteworthy figure is Lachlan McKinon, born in 1642, who played a significant role in the Jacobite risings of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Other prominent individuals bearing the McKinon surname include James McKinon (1719-1789), a respected scholar and theologian; Mary McKinon (1780-1856), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights; and Robert McKinon (1848-1922), a renowned architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The surname McKinon, with its rich Scottish heritage and associations with the Hebrides Islands, has a long and fascinating history that spans centuries. While the name may have evolved in spelling over time, its origins and connections to the Gaelic language and culture remain firmly rooted.

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.

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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