Article
MacKinnon
Motto: Audentes Fortuna Juvat (Fortune assists the daring)
MacKinnons are a branch of the Siol Alpin, descendants of Kenneth MacAlpin. ‘Fingon’ in Gaelic means ‘fair-born’. The MacKinnons on Arran were friends to Robert the Bruce while he was a fugitive, helping him escape to Carrick. Following victory at Bannockburn, they were gifted land on Skye. The Chiefs lived at Dunrigall Castle. A branch of the family also became hereditary abbots of Iona, the last of which was John MacKinnon, who died c.1500.
The MacKinnons were rivals to the MacLeans. During the reign of James IV the government of the Isles, and independence of the Chiefs, was put to the test.
In 1609, Lachlan MacKinnon and other chiefs were forced to subscribe to the Statutes of Iona, curtailing their powers. However, the MacKinnons were loyal to the Stuarts, fighting with Montrose at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645. In 1651, Lachlan Mor fought on the royalist side at the Battle of Worcester. Latterly, the chief was made a knight banneret by Charles II. Again, the MacKinnons supported the royalist cause at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. They also fought at Culloden. Prince Charles was protected by the MacKinnons in a cave.
Choose from one of the MacKinnon tartans listed below:
