MCINNES
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Innes, Mcinnes
McInnes is a surname that originates from the Gaelic language of the British Isles, specifically Scotland. The name is traditionally connected with Christian clergy and the broader Celtic cultural heritage that shaped the nation during the early medieval period.
The surname derives directly from the Gaelic MacAonghais, which translates to son of Angus. Angus itself is an ancient Scottish given name that comes from the Gaelic word Aonghas, meaning either “one choice” or “unique”. Thus, McInnes signifies a familial connection to an ancestor named Angus and is commonly found among the clans of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
In addition to its Scottish roots, McInnes is closely related to the Irish surname McGuinness, an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Aonghuis. The element mac denotes “son of” and the personal name Aonghuis corresponds to Angus. Tradition records the first known bearer of the name as Aonghus Turimleach in the 3rd Century B.C., a figure historically associated with the migration of a trio of brothers from Ireland who are said to have established rule in Scotland and left a lasting legacy in the form of the MacAonghais line.
Documentary evidence places the earliest recorded spelling of the surname in 1514, when a tenant named Donald McKynes was listed in the Rental Book of Cupar‑Angus during the reign of King James V. Further attestations include an instrument of sasine witnessed by John M’Kynnes in 1530, a marriage ceremony recorded for Thomas McInnes and Archewias Lorimer at Edinburgh Parish Church in 1764, and the christening of their daughter Mary McInnes on 29 October 1765. These early entries illustrate the surname’s continuity in Scottish legal and ecclesiastical records.
Over the centuries a range of orthographic variants have emerged, including McGinnis, McEnnesse, McEnnis, McInch, Maguinness, and Maginnis. In modern usage the surname remains common in Scotland and within the broader Scottish diaspora, notably in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. The prevalence of the name in these regions reflects historical migration patterns and the enduring cultural importance of Scottish surnames.
It is important to recognise that the sharing of the surname McInnes does not by itself confirm close kinship between all individuals who bear it. Throughout history many unrelated families adopted the same patronymic indicator, and regional dialects, transcription errors, and the process of Anglicisation have produced distinct lines that share only the name.
Typical given names associated with the McInnes surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- David
- Donald
- Ian
- James
- John
- Robert
- Stuart
- William
Female
- Alison
- Carol
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Gillian
- Helen
- Jean
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McInnes in...
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There are approximately 4,796 people named McInnes in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,967th most common surname in Britain. Around 74 in a million people in Britain are named McInnes.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named McInnes
- Gavin McInnes - Canadian writer
- Liz McInnes - Politician
- Derek McInnes - Scottish football player and manager
- Joshua James "Josh" McInnes - Musician
- James Campbell McInnes - Singer and teacher (1874 to 1945)
- Alison McInnes - Scottish politician
- Jimmy McInnes - Scottish football player (1912 to 1965)
- James McInnes - Politician (1901 to 1974)
- Tom McInnes - Scottish professional football player (1869 to 1939)
- Joe McInnes - Scottish football player
- Tom McInnes - Football player (1873 to 1937)
- Ian McInnes - Scottish football player
- John McInnes - (1927 to 1)
- Dugald McInnes - Sport shooter (1877 to 1929)
- John McInnes -
- John McInnes - Australian politician (1878 to 1950)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.