Surname McInnes - Meaning and Origin

McInnes: What does the surname McInnes mean?

McInnes is a Scottish surname, originating from the Gaelic language. It derives from the personal name Aonghus, which translates to Angus in English. The Mac or Mc prefix means "son of," hence McInnes roughly translates to "son of Angus." Angus itself means "one strength" or "unique choice" in Celtic. Typically, this surname represents the descendants of a common ancestor named Angus. This surname is prevalent among people of Scottish descent around the world, particularly in Scotland and Canada. Like other surnames, having the McInnes surname does not necessarily imply a direct or close relation with all others who have it, as many unrelated people adopted or were given the same surname throughout history for various reasons.

McInnes: Where does the name McInnes come from?

The last name McInnes is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Aonghais," which means "son of Angus." Angus is an ancient Dalriadic-Scottish given name, in honor of the Irish Pagan god of love and youth (Aonghus).

The McInnes surname is mainly associated with the Scottish west coast, especially the region of Argyll where the MacInnes clan originally lived. The clan is considered part of the larger ‘Sons of Conn’ group. They were widely spread across the Isles of Islay and Jura.

Today, the last name McInnes is most common in Scotland and countries where Scottish people have emigrated, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. In these regions, people of Scottish descent have kept or rediscovered their ancestral names. Therefore, the McInnes surname is fairly common in regions with a substantial Scottish diaspora.

Variations of the surname McInnes

The surname McInnes, widely recognized as being of Scottish origin, has various spellings and related surnames that have evolved over time due to regional dialects, transcription errors, and Anglicization. Some of these variations include MacInnes, MacInnis, McInnis, McEnnis, and McKinnis.

It's also affiliated with the clan names Mac Angus and MacAngus. Moreover, in Gaelic, it is spelt as MacAonghais, which translates to "son of Angus". So, surnames derived from the name Angus – such as MacAngus, McCangus, and others – could be related to McInnes, depending on the family history.

Both the prefixes 'Mac' and 'Mc' signify 'son of,' and the interchangeable usage of these prefixes may have led to further variations in the surname. The usage of these prefixes, along with 'O,' was a common way to denote family relationships in Gaelic-speaking regions.

It's also common to see the removal of the prefix, resulting in versions such as Innes or Innis. It is always crucial to trace back individual family trees to confirm the relationships between these names, as variations may have developed independently in different families.

Famous people with the name McInnes

• Gavin McInnes: Canadian Writer, Actor, and Political Commentator
• Craig McInnes: Canadian Geologist and Science Communicator
• Ryan McInnes: British Photographer
• Lachlan McInnes: Australian Professional Golfer
• Blair McInnes: American Voice Actor
• Josh McInnes: Australian Professional Tennis Player
• Alexander McInnes: Scottish Professional Football Player
• Sean McInnes: Canadian Professional Sports Broadcaster
• Perdita McInnes: Scottish Children's Author
• Tim McInnes: British Poet and Musicologist
• Tony McInnes: Australian YouTuber and Author
• Liam McInnes: American Professional Basketball Player
• Marc McInnes: English Musician and Artist
• Sean McInnes: Canadian Masturbation Expert
• Joe McInnes: British Actor

Other surnames

McInnis