A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mckinnon family of England.
Reg. 5969 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st, vert a boar's head couped, holding in the mouth a shin-bone ar.; 2nd, az. a tower triple-towered ar.; 3rd, or, a galley gu.; 4th, ar. a man's arm couped below the wrist from the sinister ppr. grasping a cross crosslet fitchée sa. all within a bordure gu”
HantsPortswood Park · Hants, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Mckinnon arms are recorded
The Mckinnon arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its coat of arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Mckinnon arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hants.
Origin & History of the Mckinnon Family in England
The name MacKinnon originates from the Gaelic *Mac Fhionghuin*, which translates to "son of the fair-born." The family traces its roots back to the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and the Hebrides islands. By the early 17th century, members of the family were already establishing themselves in new regions, including a recorded presence in Hants, England, by 1620. During this era, the MacKinnons were known for their strong ties to the land and their involvement in local community life. As they moved away from their traditional ancestral territories, they carried their distinct cultural identity and linguistic heritage with them. This migration reflects a broader trend of families seeking new opportunities while maintaining the traditions passed down through generations.
Mckinnon Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac Fhionghuin
Son of the fair-born one
This name
MckinnonDerived from Gaelic, signifying a descendant of a fair or handsome person.
also spelled
McKinnon
Kinnon
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
MacKinnon, Donald, The Clan MacKinnon: A Short History, 1958
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
bordureA difference between branches of one family
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
