Clan MacKinnon: A Legacy of Skye, Mull, Iona and the Death of Alpin
Introduction
Clan MacKinnon, also written Mackinnon, McKinnon, MacKinning, MacKinven, MacFhionghain, and related forms, is a historic Highland and Hebridean Scottish clan rooted especially in Skye, Strathaird, Kyleakin, Caisteal Maol, Mull, Mishnish, Iona, the Inner Hebrides, and the wider Scottish diaspora.
The Gaelic name is:
Clann MacFhionghain
usually understood as:
Children of Fionghan
or:
Descendants of the fair-born one
The personal name Fionghan / Fingon is generally interpreted from Gaelic elements meaning:
fair
and
born / offspring
The clan motto is:
“Audentes Fortuna Juvat”
meaning:
“Fortune assists the daring”
or
“Fortune favours the bold.”
The clan slogan is:
“Cuimhnich bàs Alpein”
meaning:
“Remember the death of Alpin.”
The clan crest is:
A boar’s head erased Argent, holding in its mouth a deer’s shankbone Proper.
In simpler terms, this is a silver boar’s head holding a deer bone in its mouth. Modern clan summaries list the MacKinnon crest as a boar’s head holding a deer’s shankbone, the motto as Audentes Fortuna Juvat, and the slogan as Cuimhnich bàs Alpein.
The plant badge is:
Scots pine
The historic seat is:
Caisteal Maol, at Kyleakin, on the Isle of Skye.
The current chief is:
Madam Anne Gunhild MacKinnon of MacKinnon
38th Chief of the Name and Arms of MacKinnon
She is recognised as the current chief in modern clan summaries and MacKinnon heritage sources.
Chapter I: Origins of Clan MacKinnon
The surname MacKinnon comes from Gaelic:
Mac Fhionghain
This is usually interpreted as:
Son of Fionghan
The name Fionghan / Fingon is often explained as meaning:
fair-born
or
fair offspring
Historic spellings and related forms include:
MacKinnon
Mackinnon
McKinnon
MacKinning
MacKinven
MacFhionghain
MacInnon
McInnon
Fingon
Fionghan
Clan MacKinnon is one of the traditional clans associated with Siol Alpin, the group of clans claiming descent from Alpin, father of Kenneth MacAlpin. This tradition links the clan with some of the oldest royal origin legends in Scotland.
The clan slogan:
Cuimhnich bàs Alpein — Remember the death of Alpin
preserves that origin tradition in dramatic form. It is not merely a war cry; it is a memory command.
Clan MacKinnon is therefore a clan of:
Siol Alpin tradition
Skye territory
Mull connections
Iona guardianship memory
Caisteal Maol
Hebridean sea routes
Jacobite loyalty
boar symbolism
tartan pride
diaspora survival
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
Fortune favours the bold.
Chapter II: Clan Territory and Ancestral Lands
Clan MacKinnon’s historic territories include:
Skye
Strathaird
Kyleakin
Caisteal Maol
Mull
Mishnish
Iona
The Inner Hebrides
The western Highlands
The wider Scottish diaspora
The historic seat is:
Caisteal Maol
Caisteal Maol stands at Kyleakin, guarding the narrows between Skye and the mainland. It is one of the strongest visual symbols of MacKinnon heritage. Modern clan summaries list Caisteal Maol as the historic seat of the clan.
For Clan MacKinnon, Caisteal Maol represents:
chiefship
Skye power
sea-road control
watch over the Kyle
the old stronghold of the name
The MacKinnon landscape is classic Hebridean Scotland:
sea crossings
island strongholds
Skye mountains
Mull shorelands
Iona spirituality
Norse-Gaelic sea culture
Clan Donald alliances
MacLeod and Campbell rivalries
This is a clan shaped by the sea as much as by the land.
Chapter III: Siol Alpin and the Death of Alpin
Clan MacKinnon belongs to the traditional group known as:
Siol Alpin
This group includes clans that claim descent from Alpin, father of Kenneth MacAlpin.
The MacKinnon slogan is:
Cuimhnich bàs Alpein
meaning:
Remember the death of Alpin.
This slogan gives the clan an unusually ancient and tragic memory.
It suggests:
ancestral loyalty
royal descent tradition
vengeance memory
a duty to remember the founder’s death
identity carried through war cry
Whether treated as literal early history, medieval genealogy, or clan tradition, the slogan is one of the most powerful in Scottish clan culture.
It tells every MacKinnon:
Do not forget where you came from.
Chapter IV: Important People of Clan MacKinnon
Alpin
The great legendary ancestor behind the clan’s slogan is:
Alpin
His remembered death gives the clan its war cry:
Remember the death of Alpin.
For Clan MacKinnon, Alpin represents:
ancient ancestry
royal memory
Siol Alpin identity
a past that must not be forgotten
The MacKinnons of Strathaird
The MacKinnons became especially associated with Strathaird on Skye.
Strathaird gave the clan a strong territorial identity and linked it to the wider Skye clan world.
The MacKinnons of Mishnish
On Mull, the MacKinnons were associated with Mishnish and surrounding districts.
This gave the clan a second major island identity beyond Skye.
The MacKinnon Chiefs
The chiefs of MacKinnon were historically associated with Skye and the Hebrides.
The current chief is:
Madam Anne Gunhild MacKinnon of MacKinnon
38th Chief of the Name and Arms of MacKinnon
Modern sources identify her as the current recognised chief.
Stephen MacKinnon of Mishnish
Modern clan summaries note that Stephen MacKinnon of Massachusetts was appointed in 2015 as Representative of the Chief and Chieftain of Mishnish.
This gives the clan a strong diaspora leadership link, especially for MacKinnons outside Scotland.
Chapter V: Castles, Islands and Historic Sites
Caisteal Maol
Caisteal Maol, at Kyleakin on Skye, is the great historic seat of Clan MacKinnon.
For Clan MacKinnon, it represents:
the old seat
Skye identity
sea-route control
the Kyle of Lochalsh crossing
the fortress memory of the clan
The castle’s location was strategic because it overlooked one of the key sea passages between Skye and the mainland.
Strathaird
Strathaird is one of the most important MacKinnon districts on Skye.
It represents:
landholding
chiefship memory
Skye settlement
MacKinnon territorial identity
Mishnish, Mull
Mishnish, on Mull, is another important MacKinnon place.
It connects the clan to:
Mull history
west Highland sea routes
Clan Donald and MacLean-era politics
island settlement and diaspora
Iona
Iona is spiritually important in MacKinnon tradition.
The MacKinnons are often linked with hereditary roles around Iona and the protection or service of the island’s religious community.
For Clan MacKinnon, Iona represents:
faith
burial memory
ancient Christianity
the sacred west
the spiritual side of Hebridean identity
Kyleakin
Kyleakin is the settlement beside Caisteal Maol.
For MacKinnon descendants, it is one of the key places to visit when tracing the clan’s Skye heritage.
Chapter VI: Clan Alliances, Rivalries and Highland Politics
Clan MacKinnon history belongs to the dangerous political world of the Hebrides and western Highlands.
Clan Donald Alliance
Clan MacKinnon was often allied with Clan Donald of Sleat. Modern clan summaries list Clan MacDonald of Sleat as an allied clan.
This placed MacKinnon in the wider Clan Donald sea-world of Skye, the Isles and west Highland politics.
Rivalry with Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod is listed among the rival clans of MacKinnon.
This makes sense in the context of Skye, where MacLeod and MacDonald-related powers competed for influence.
Rivalry with Clan Campbell and Clan MacLean
Modern clan summaries also list Clan Campbell and Clan MacLean as rival clans.
This reflects the wider Argyll, Mull and Hebridean conflict landscape.
The MacKinnon story is therefore shaped by:
Skye politics
Mull politics
MacDonald alliances
MacLeod rivalry
Campbell pressure
MacLean conflict
control of sea routes
Chapter VII: Jacobite Loyalty and the 1745 Rising
Clan MacKinnon is strongly associated with Jacobite loyalty.
During the rising of 1745, MacKinnons supported Prince Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie.
After the Jacobite defeat at Culloden, the Prince fled through the Highlands and Islands. MacKinnon tradition remembers the clan as helping him during his escape.
This gives the clan a romantic but dangerous Jacobite legacy:
loyalty to the Stuarts
risk in hiding fugitives
island networks of escape
Highland honour after defeat
For Clan MacKinnon, Jacobite memory belongs to the same spirit as the motto:
Fortune favours the bold.
The clan’s history rewards daring, but daring often comes at a price.
Chapter VIII: Clan Crest, Motto and Badge
Clan Crest
The MacKinnon crest is:
A boar’s head erased Argent, holding in its mouth a deer’s shankbone Proper.
The boar suggests:
courage
ferocity
strength
tenacity
a refusal to yield
The deer bone adds a distinctive hunting and Highland element.
Together, the crest is fierce, memorable and very old in feeling.
Clan Motto
The motto is:
“Audentes Fortuna Juvat”
This means:
“Fortune assists the daring.”
It is also commonly rendered:
“Fortune favours the bold.”
It means:
boldness brings opportunity
courage attracts fortune
the daring shape their own fate
fear does not build a clan
For Clan MacKinnon, this motto fits the island-warrior world of Skye and Mull perfectly.
Clan Slogan
The slogan is:
“Cuimhnich bàs Alpein”
This means:
“Remember the death of Alpin.”
This is a memory slogan, a war cry, and an identity statement.
Plant Badge
The plant badge is:
Scots pine
Modern clan summaries list Scots pine as the plant badge of Clan MacKinnon.
Scots pine suggests:
ancient woodland
endurance
Highland roots
strength in poor ground
survival through harsh weather
Chapter IX: Clan MacKinnon Tartans
MacKinnon Tartan
The MacKinnon tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 2542.
This is one of the principal tartans associated with the clan.
MacKinnon 1842 Tartan
The MacKinnon 1842 tartan is also recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 2548.
This tartan is connected with the tartan revival period and the controversial Vestiarium Scoticum of 1842. ScotlandShop notes that an original MacKinnon tartan appeared in the Vestiarium Scoticum, now generally treated with caution as a likely 19th-century creation rather than a genuine 15th-century source.
MacKinnon Hunting Tartan
A newer MacKinnon hunting tartan was registered with the Lyon Court in 1960 and was based on colours of the earlier tartan.
MacKinnon Tartan Range
Modern MacKinnon tartans include:
MacKinnon Modern
MacKinnon Ancient
MacKinnon Red Modern
MacKinnon Red Ancient
MacKinnon Hunting Modern
MacKinnon Hunting Ancient
MacKinnon 1842
The Clan MacKinnon Society also notes popular tartan variants such as Rouge Moderne, Rouge Ancien, Chasse Moderne, and Chasse Ancienne.
The Meaning of MacKinnon Tartan Today
For modern MacKinnon descendants, tartan represents:
Skye
Mull
Caisteal Maol
Siol Alpin memory
the motto “Fortune favours the bold”
the slogan “Remember the death of Alpin”
family pride and diaspora identity
The MacKinnon tartans give this Hebridean clan a strong and visible Scottish identity.
Chapter X: Heritage, Identity and Clan Traditions
Clan MacKinnon represents a Highland and Hebridean identity built on ancient ancestry, island lordship, boldness, memory and survival.
Its story includes:
Mac Fhionghain — son of Fionghan
Siol Alpin tradition
Skye
Strathaird
Caisteal Maol
Kyleakin
Mull and Mishnish
Iona spiritual memory
Clan Donald alliance
Jacobite loyalty
the boar’s head crest
the motto “Audentes Fortuna Juvat”
the slogan “Cuimhnich bàs Alpein”
Scots pine plant badge
MacKinnon tartans
a living recognised chief
Associated names and septs include:
MacKinnon
Mackinnon
McKinnon
MacInnon
McInnon
MacKinning
MacKinven
MacMorran
MacSherrie
Sherrie
Sherry
Love
Low
Modern clan summaries list names such as Love, Low, MacKinning, MacKinven, MacMorran, MacSherrie, Sherrie and Sherry as septs or associated names.
Chapter XI: Clan MacKinnon Today
Today, Clan MacKinnon remains a recognised Highland clan with a living chief.
The current chief is:
Madam Anne Gunhild MacKinnon of MacKinnon
38th Chief of the Name and Arms of MacKinnon
Modern summaries identify her as recognised by the Lord Lyon.
Modern Clan MacKinnon identity can be found through:
Clan MacKinnon Society
family history research
MacKinnon tartan wearing
study of Skye and Mull records
visits to Caisteal Maol and Kyleakin
Iona heritage research
Scottish heritage events
Highland games
diaspora family networks
For MacKinnon descendants, the best first step is to trace the family’s spelling and region:
MacKinnon?
Mackinnon?
McKinnon?
MacKinning?
MacKinven?
MacMorran?
Sherrie?
Skye?
Strathaird?
Kyleakin?
Mull?
Mishnish?
Iona?
Canada?
Australia?
New Zealand?
The United States?
That will determine the strongest family-history path.
Chapter XII: Legacy of Clan MacKinnon
The story of Clan MacKinnon begins with an ancient memory.
From Fionghan came the name.
From Siol Alpin came the royal tradition.
From Skye came the stronghold.
From Caisteal Maol came the seat.
From Mull and Iona came island depth.
From the crest came the boar.
From the slogan came the warning:
Remember the death of Alpin.
From the motto came the spirit:
Audentes Fortuna Juvat — Fortune favours the bold.
That phrase captures the MacKinnon character: daring, island-born, ancient in memory, and strong enough to carry its name across seas and centuries.
From Skye to Mull, from Caisteal Maol to descendants across the world, Clan MacKinnon continues to carry its history forward.
Its legacy is written in tartan, boars, pine trees, sea roads, Jacobite memories, old castles, family records and the pride of those who still honour the name.
Tartan Time Machine Closing Paragraph
At Tartan Time Machine, we bring Scotland’s past into the present by exploring the clans, surnames, castles, kirkyards, tartans, legends and forgotten stories that shaped the nation.
Clan MacKinnon is one chapter in that greater story — a story of Skye, Mull, Iona, Caisteal Maol, Siol Alpin memory, boar’s head crests, tartans and the bold motto: Fortune favours the bold.
Discover more Scottish history, clan stories, castle features and heritage content at:
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