The Mackinnon surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,199 people carried this name — #7,882 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 70,400 people counted. That is up 5% from 4,003 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Mackinnon surname

From Scottish Gaelic MhicFhionghain, from Fhionghain (“Fingon”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «MacKinnon» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 87 people named Mackinnon live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Entre Ríos.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Entre Ríos 36
Buenos Aires Province 23
City of Buenos Aires 17
Mendoza 11

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Scotland’s registers today

Mackinnon was recorded 115 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 214th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 190. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Mackinnon in American newspapers,
1900–1925.

Newspaper page from East St. Louis Daily Journal carrying the name Mackinnon
East St. Louis Daily Journal 1925-05-03
Newspaper page from The Nebraska Independent carrying the name Mackinnon
The Nebraska Independent 1900-02-01
Newspaper page from The Frontier carrying the name Mackinnon
The Frontier 1919-11-06

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 12,636 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Mackinnon in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

67,743 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Mackinnon. The most, 19,560, date from the 1910s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 2.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 35,524
New South Wales 14,522
South Australia 4,399
Tasmania 4,387
Queensland 4,347
Western Australia 3,895
ACT (Canberra) 544
Northern Territory 23

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Mackinnon.

Who carried it

People named Mackinnon,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Henry Mackinnon
    William Henry Mackinnon 1852–1929 · military personnel
  • Lachlan Mackinnon 1855–1948 · advocate
  • Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon 1870–1937 · architect
  • Doris Mackinnon 1883–1956 · zoologist
  • Doris Mackinnon 1883–1956 · zoologist
  • Lilias Mackinnon 1889–1974 · pianist

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Mackinnon,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States813 records

813 records of the Mackinnon name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 498
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 133
  • Other U.S. records 182
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Hector E. MacKinnon

    Born 1911 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1940 at Boston; office clerk from Norfolk County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1982, buried at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Massachusetts.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margaret MacKinnon

    Arrived at New York in 1863 aboard the Chancellor from Liverpool, aged 17; servant. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. A U.S. Army record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864
    Example: U.S. burial record, 1864
    Burial record Dennis William Mac Kinnon

    U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. Born 1945, died 1998; buried at Rhode Island Veteran Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, Rhode Island.

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 813 records for Mackinnon in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864, U.S. National Archives (public domain).

Canada3,110 records

3,110 records of the Mackinnon name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 2,910
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 57
  • Other Canadian records 143
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Angus MacKinnon

    Killed in 1945 at the Inverness No. 3 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Clarence MacKinnon

    Buried in 1947 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 80.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Alfred Randolph MacKinnon

    Died in service in 1917.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 3,110 records for Mackinnon in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

Australia836 records

836 records of the Mackinnon name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 492
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 195
  • Other Australian records 149
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William MacKinnon

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Elizabeth, sailing from London in 1831. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1845.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Christiana MacKinnon

    Died 1882 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 71. Will registered in Tasmania in 1882.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Hugh MacKinnon

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Waverley, aged 24; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 836 records for Mackinnon in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom67 records

67 records of the Mackinnon name in the United Kingdom
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 31
  • Stirling Council burial records 29
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 7
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Robert W. MacKinnon

    Born 1887 at Easter Elchies. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Isabella MacKinnon

    Died 1974, aged 42; buried at Kippen Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record P. MacKinnon

    Royal Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 67 records for Mackinnon in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France3 records

3 records of the Mackinnon name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Selina Mairi Sine MacKinnon

    Born 1901 in Great Britain; died 1996 in Maisons-Laffitte (Yvelines).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Ronald Campbell MacKinnon

    Born 1926 in Canada; died 1993 in Brest (Finistère).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Paul Marshall MacKinnon

    Born 1941 in Canada; died 2000.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands3 records

3 records of the Mackinnon name in the Netherlands Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Alick MacKinnon

    Married in 1945 in Nijmegen; driver.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Matthew MacKinnon

    Died 1913 in Rotterdam, aged 21.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Joseph Gerard Mac Kinnon

    Married in 1946 in Oss.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand2 records

2 records of the Mackinnon name in New Zealand Marlborough District cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joyce Barry MacKinnon

    Died 1994, aged 79; buried at Picton Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Grace Minnie MacKinnon

    Died 1998, aged 85; buried at Picton Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Mackinnon.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Mackinnon is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Mackinnon volume
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