Clan MacKinnon have a new lease of life – not only have they appointed a new Chieftan but have a shiny new website. This will serve as a great resource to the widespread MacKinnon Clan. They want everyone to know they are very much alive and active.
There has been a change to the organizational leadership. The tile of Clan Chieftan Representative of MacKinnon of MacKinnon has been passed to Gerald McKinnon.
Their new website (www.themackinnon.com) is great, and they have an active Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Clan-MacKinnon-Society/219640301404009 which has over 200 likes. If you have MacKinnon in your blood please support them and like the page.
They have representatives/members in 26 States (U..S.) 3 provinces, Australia and Indonesia.
We are not sure why the site doesn’t show their current Clan Chief – Madam Ann MacKinnon of MacKinnon but great to see a society embrace the internet and social media.
The Chief has not made any comment nor appeared in public in her capacity for decades. Attempts at contact have not been returned. Her son Andrew Jeffrey is styled Andrew Mackinnon of Mackinnon the younger. This is not possible under the laws that govern clans. He cannot have another or a double barrelled name.
Sadly, we have no chief in all respects but name.
I understand that it is quite correct for the heir apparent to the chieftaincy of a clan/family Name and Arms to be styled ‘the Younger’, in the manner complained about by your correspondent, Andrew McKinnon. It is not in the gift of a clan, but that of the Lord Lyon King of Arms who determines these matters on behalf of the Crown.
Both my lines MacDonald of Keppoch and MacKinnon of Mishnish meet with Colla Uais who died in 337ad (High King 306-310)
Interesting times for clan Mhic Fhionnghuin!
I think that I will be Chief. By Divine right and by my red beard. Thanks Mr. Wood, for the info.
Capt. Jeff Mackinnon
Cape Breton
Aye! Another Caper Mackinnon
While we ceertainly appreciate the recognition of our Society. There is one correction/clarification. We have not appointed a new chieftan. The whereabouts of our Chieftan Ann still remains unknown. We do have a duly appointed and vetted Clan Chieftan Representatve. Most recently has been been honored as a licentiate for coats of arms by the Canadian Heraldic Society.
Anne Mackinnon of Mackinnon who Inherited her post from her father, Neil – is an absentee chief by choice.
You can find a street address – in Somerset, in western ENGLAND, of all places- but NO phone number nor e–mail address. She is NOT on the STANDING COMMITTEE OF SCOTTISH CHIEFS by her own volition. So the sooner we can replace her with a Chief that will do his job the better.
In response to Andrew Mackinnon, and Nick Wood, my family, the Mackinnons of Kyle, is/are a cadet line of the Chiefs descended from Lachlan IV Og, Laird of Strath, and 13th Chief, who died ca 1600. Andrew is quite correct when he says that Andrew Jeffrey has no right to the Chiefship which must pass, according to Brehon tradition, to the nearest Heir male of the Chief’s AGNATIC house. Relatives cannot claim through the female line, despite what the Lyon Court says. Ann’s son is a Jeffrey, not a Mackinnon.
Actually, the rightful chief is the head of the Mishnish family whch descends from Ian na Mishnish, the only son of the second marriage of Lachlan VI of Strath, 16th Chief. The Mishnish family however, failed to claim their rights, when Ian III, 19th Chief, committed suicide in London in 1808. The present chief’s family is a senior line of my family, and is therefore junior to the Mishnish line. A representative of the Mishnish family, is at present attempting to reclaim her family’s rights to the Chiefship in the Lyon Court.
By the way the Chiefs are incorrectly numbered. The present Chief, Anne, is the 26th Chief, not the 38th Chief. This incorrect numbering arises from a false pedigree of the Chiefs, compiled in the 19th Century. Recent research has established that the Chiefs are descended in the male line from King MacBeth, not King Alpin. They are also descended in the female line from King Alpin.
I am interested in the research suggesting that the male line of chieftainship descends from MacBeth, while also descending from the female line from King Alpin. Where can this research be found and reviewed? What is the genesis of this distinction, as it seems to contadict normative assumptions.
Family history is a passion, but I also teach MacBeth and have told the students that it is about my ancestors. Yes, yes, I have reviewed information about the distinction between the historical and Shakespearean MacBeth.
Does anyone know just how MacKinnons are related to MacBeth?
Thanks
Hi John.
I got my information on the Macbeth descent from Gerald Mackinnon, who formerly represented our Chief, Anne Mackinnon. Macbeth had a son Ferchar Og, who fled to Ireland after his father was killed in 1057. Ferchar married an Irish woman/princess and had a son named Murchertach. Ferchar died ca 1080. Merchertach had a son named Airbertach who returned to Argyle in Scotland and became a leader of the Scottish resistance against the Norwegian occupation of the Hebrides islands. His fortress was at Dun Airbertach near Oban, Argyll. Airbertach had a son named Cormac who had a large family of sons. His second or third son was Finguin, the ancestor of our chiefs. Finguin was allocated an estate in Mull called Griban . He founded our clan Clan Fionguin/ Mackinnon. Macbeth’s mother was a MacAlpi n princess who was directly descended from King Alpin.
Interesting to know . I’m a MacKinnon of Corriechatachan my grand father always claimed he was of the chiefs bloodline . until I left Bradford ten years ago my family had lived within 15 miles of Bradford since the 1500s
Hi Ruaridh
I only saw your post now. The Mackinnons of Corriechatachan are also descended from the Chiefs. Your family is descended from Lachlan III aka Laclann Dubh, 12th Chief and Laird of Strath & Mishnish. Lachlan died ca 1580. Before Chief John V (Iain na Riachan) , 21st Chief, committed suicide in London in 1808, he drew up a will a portion of which survives in New register House in Edinburgh. According to this surviving portion, Iain na Riachan entrusted the Chiefship to his cousin Lachlan Mackinnon of Corry/Corriechatachan in the event of his death. This act was never recognized by the Lyon Court in Edinburgh, and the Chiefship remained disputed for two years. The rightful successor to John V should have been his third cousin, Major John Mackinnon, 3rd of Mishnish who was serving in the British army in Canada at the time. The Scottish Court of Session had ruled way back min 1757 that in the event of the failure of the senior line of chiefs, the Chiefship of Clan Fionguin should default to the Mishnish family who descend from John IV, aka Iain na Mishnish,19th Chief , who was disposes ed of the Chiefship by the Lords of Session in favour of his grand-nephew Charles, a son born late in the life of John II aka Iain Dubh, 18th Chief, who was stripped of his Chiefship by Act of the British Parliament in 1715 on account of his participation in the 1715 rebellion against the British Crown. However Major John Mackinnon, 3rd of Mishnish failed to exercise his right to the Chiefship in 1808. In the meantime, a flamboyant young planter from Antigua named William Alexander Mackinnon arrived in Scotland in 1810 and claimed the Mackinnon Chiefship based on his alleged descent from “Donald”, a “second” son of Chief Lachlan VI aka Lachlann Mor by Lachlan’s first marriage. However, Lachlan’s marriage contract to his second wife, Marion Macleod of Grishornish, shows clearly that the Chief only had ONE son by his first wife, not two. Therefore William Alexander’s claim was fabricated based on Lachlan and Marion’s marriage contract. This was not know at the time however, so the Lyon Court recognized William’s claim and issued Arms to him in 1810. His family aka the Mackinnons of Acryse, have held the Chiefship ever since and have played a prominent role in the politics and military life of the United Kingdom. The daughter of William Alexander married the Premier Duke of France, while other members of his family were generals and senior officers in the British armed forces. William himself was a Member of the British Parliament for Rye, and was a personal friend of the Duke of Wellington (who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte). William’s aunt Eliza was sought in marriage by Napoleon, but her father (also William Mackinnon) refused the match. If he had agreed, she would have been the Empress of France. Nevertheless, since 1810 till now, none of William Alexander’s family have been able to prove their descent from the original line of Chiefs aka the Mackinnons of Strath, eiither by paper, or by DNA testing. It has been speculated that the present chief’s family may be descended from a great-grandson of Lachlan IV, 13th Chief, but this cannot be proved either. So in my opinion, and the opinion of many others in our clan, Stephen Mackinnon of Mishnish is the rightful Chief of our clan being the male line descendant of Chief John IV (Iain na Mishnish) who died in 1759, and who’s descendants now live in Canada and America. This complies with the ruling of Scotland’s highest court the Court of Session in 1757. Your family, the Mackinnons of Corry probably have a better claim than the present Chief’s family. All this may explain why she has recently appointed Stephen as her official representative.
Hi Ruaridh
I only saw your post now. The Mackinnons of Corriechatachan are also descended from the Chiefs. Your family is descended from Lachlan III aka Laclann Dubh, 12th Chief and Laird of Strath & Mishnish. Lachlan died ca 1580. Before Chief John V (Iain na Riachan) , 21st Chief, committed suicide in London in 1808, he drew up a will a portion of which survives in New register House in Edinburgh. According to this surviving portion, Iain na Riachan entrusted the Chiefship to his cousin Lachlan Mackinnon of Corry/Corriechatachan in the event of his death. This act was never recognized by the Lyon Court in Edinburgh, and the Chiefship remained disputed for two years. The rightful successor to John V should have been his third cousin, Major John Mackinnon, 3rd of Mishnish who was serving in the British army in Canada at the time. The Scottish Court of Session had ruled way back min 1757 that in the event of the failure of the senior line of chiefs, the Chiefship of Clan Fionguin should default to the Mishnish family who descend from John IV, aka Iain na Mishnish,19th Chief , who was disposes ed of the Chiefship by the Lords of Session in favour of his grand-nephew Charles, a son born late in the life of John II aka Iain Dubh, 18th Chief, who was stripped of his Chiefship by Act of the British Parliament in 1715 on account of his participation in the 1715 rebellion against the British Crown. However Major John Mackinnon, 3rd of Mishnish failed to exercise his right to the Chiefship in 1808. In the meantime, a flamboyant young planter from Antigua named William Alexander Mackinnon arrived in Scotland in 1810 and claimed the Mackinnon Chiefship based on his alleged descent from “Donald”, a “second” son of Chief Lachlan VI aka Lachlann Mor by Lachlan’s first marriage. However, Lachlan’s marriage contract to his second wife, Marion Macleod of Grishornish, shows clearly that the Chief only had ONE son by his first wife, not two. Therefore William Alexander’s claim was fabricated based on Lachlan and Marion’s marriage contract. This was not know at the time however, so the Lyon Court recognized William’s claim and issued Arms to him in 1810. His family aka the Mackinnons of Acryse, have held the Chiefship ever since and have played a prominent role in the politics and military life of the United Kingdom. The daughter of William Alexander married the Premier Duke of France, while other members of his family were generals and senior officers in the British armed forces. William himself was a Member of the British Parliament for Rye, and was a personal friend of the Duke of Wellington (who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte). William’s aunt Eliza was sought in marriage by Napoleon, but her father (also William Mackinnon) refused the match. If he had agreed, she would have been the Empress of France. Nevertheless, since 1810 till now, none of William Alexander’s family have been able to prove their descent from the original line of Chiefs aka the Mackinnons of Strath, eiither by paper, or by DNA testing. It has been speculated that the present chief’s family may be descended from a great-grandson of Lachlan IV, 13th Chief, but this cannot be proved either. So in my opinion, and the opinion of many others in our clan, Stephen Mackinnon of Mishnish is the rightful Chief of our clan being the male line descendant of Chief John IV (Iain na Mishnish) who died in 1759, and who’s descendants now live in Canada and America. This complies with the ruling of Scotland’s highest court the Court of Session in 1757. Your family, the Mackinnons of Corry probably have a better claim than the present Chief’s family. All this may explain why she has recently appointed Stephen as her official representative.
Hi Douglas
I would like to trace my family history. Where do I start?
Regards
Douglas,
My family are MacInnes from Drumfearn and Leitir Fura on Ske and our branch married into the Mackinnon of Corry branch Corrychatachan a number of times like many other Skye families. Our Lachlan MacKinnon had a daughter or niece who married Finlay MacKenzie Tutor to the MacKinnon of Corry family at the time of the visit of Samuel Johnson etc in 1773 circa. I wonder if you know any details regarding the wife of Lachlan at that time. I believe her name was also Anne. Although I believe that he was married three times. I hope that you are still able to access this forum.
Alexandrina Murray
Hello Again
I have done some ancestry and knew that
my relative was a Sheriff on Mull and left when
he was tasked with foreclosing in his own brother.
As this could have been as they say a sanguinary event
he determined to liquidate his property and proposed that
his family and his brothers and others go to Canada. It is said
that they left from Ardnamurchan Point and never looked back.
With this knowledge I have traced back to my 16th great-grandfather
One Chiek Nial Buidh Royal MacKinnon who has son Lachlan,
who begat Niall, then cane Chief Ewan Rudh Nan Cath Royal MacKinnon, then
Lachlan 1 Dhr, Lachlan Og Xxv Chief son of the black haired, then to Sir Lachlan
“Mor” MacKinnon, … and do forth to … John, Malcolm, Neil, John Reavie, Neil Revie,
to my Father William who was an Orthopedic Surgeon and hosted at our house on
Montrose Street, River Heights one Sir Reginald Watson Jones Orthopedic Surgeon to the
Queen. Sir Reginald said at the time that he felt comforted by knowing that we shared
a shared blood line.
This information I will have authenticated. I would also suggest that Macbeth too was
Descended of the Siol Alpine as likewise we do. So as such, I am not much in agreement
that we descend as such from Macbeth as opposed to Alpine. Macbeth too is of the line if Alpine.
This is a matter if Geneology verified and duly credited. I can certainly understand how revisionist history
may have been employed to justify some certain party’s assertions. However, what is is what is. For my part
I have ordered a crown and not only declared myself the only true and authentic Chief of MacKinnon, but also
King of Scotland, England and all else. To that end I will blissfully drink Drambuie and toast you all who should do
the same. For all bearing the name MacKinnon are of Royal descent to which I add my Mother’s connection to
the Keith family, thereby making me related to all of the aristocracy of Scotland, England and all of Europe and the Norse
countries, as well. Sectarian interests be damned, I bow before no supposed superior person. With the kind of pedigree
I have, it is beneath my dignity, as it should be yours as justly, to argue the validity of historical truths undeniable.
Any supposed superior should have had the opportunity to meet my Father before his passing. Royal is as Royal dies
and without pretentious of any kind he served humanity like a true descendant of the superior of all Royals,
Saint Columba himself.
Lastly anybody can lay claim to being the head of MacKinnon, but I assert we have better right here and they will gather here
again this year for the Holiday Season at my table. I will wear my Crown unopposed and we will toast with the sacred liqueur to how best to serve humanity
rather than our own odd pretentious, thus proving our own innate nobility.
You might want to wait buying your crown of claiming the Chief SHIP. There is three claimants and they have submitted their generalities to the proper court. This court is the only court in the world to grant chiefships and to prove out royal lineage. The eldest heir to Mishnish lives in the UK. If you were a Mishnish Mackinnon I would say you had a chance. The Mishnish Mackinnon has a direct of all elder males that were chiefs. That is what the courts want to see. The Mishnish heir has a private Facebook page for all the Alpin Clans thus far. There is a motion to have them all verified as Royal and a Ceremony to make legal their place in order. The eldest heir of Mackinnon seems to be the first in line as they date back to 645 AD. Only certain branches of the eldest in line of Mackinnon are recognized as branch chiefs and the future High Chief has already began the High Council in Scotland the current seat of Mackinnons. The Madama Anne Gunheild Mackinnon is no longer a Chief and it was found the Antigua Mackinnons branch was false and will not be recognized by current heir of Mishnish Mackinnon. The clan itself has new changes and once the heir is verifide there will be new rules and all eight genealogists published. The Mishnish Heir has agreed to recognize the elder heirs to the other branches. There will be negotiations with the other Clan Mackinnon Society to finally blend into Clan Mackinnon LTD Worldwide with the seat being in Scotland.
My ancestor appears to be the brother foreclosed upon in Mull. I live in Michigan, USA, and would love to follow up on this apparent long distant relationship.
Malcolm L. McKinnon
malcmckin@aol