| ![Show Contents]() Kinnan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland Etymology of KinnanWhat does the name Kinnan mean? The Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the Kinnan family. Their name comes from the Gaelic personal name Findgaine. This is derived from the earlier forms Finghin and Finnguine. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Fhionghuin or Mac Fhionnghain. Kinnan Coat of Arms CreationThe Mackinnons have a boar's head with a shin bone in its mouth, which was adopted as their crest in memory of the following legendary incident. Mackinnon of Strathaird in Skye and six men were out after deer, and when the hunt was over they went into a cave where they roasted some venison. While they were eating it, the mouth of the cave was darkened by a huge boar, evidently ready to attack them. His men retreated to the innermost recesses of the cave, but Mackinnon remained ready to face the boar. Just as it was in the act of charging, he thrust the shin bone down the animal's throat and choked it. Hence the crest. The motto is in Latin " Audentes fortuna juvat " (Fortune favours the daring). 1 Early Origins of the Kinnan familyThe surname Kinnan was first found in on the Isles of Mull and Skye, where they held a family seat from early times. This distinguished Scottish Clan descended from Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Scotland who died in the 9th century and were part of the Siol Alpin, a group of Clans descended from the King. They held lands in Mull, Skye and Iona, and were long time Abbots of Iona. They were connected with the MacDonalds and other Alpin Clans such as the MacNabs and the MacGregors. The Clan was present at the Battle of Inverlochy under the Montrose and being of royalist influence they supported King Charles at Worcester. Again in 1745 in Culloden they supported the Stuarts and the Chief was imprisoned in London in the Tower. Early History of the Kinnan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kinnan research. Another 319 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1409, 1467, 1495, 1506, 1536, 1545, 1557, 1560, 1577, 1586, 1609, 1621, 1662, 1673, 1675, 1681, 1745, 1789, 1791, 1804, 1808, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1826, 1829, 1830, 1836, 1870 and 1884 are included under the topic Early Kinnan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kinnan Spelling VariationsMedieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. Kinnan has been written as MacKinnon, MacKinning, MacInnon, MacKinnen, MacFingon and many more. Early Notables of the Kinnan familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was Daniel MacKinnon (1791-1836), colonel and historian of the Coldstream guards, born in 1791, was son of William Mackinnon, chief of the Clan Mackinnon. William Alexander Mackinnon (1789-1870) was his elder brother, and Daniel Henry Mackinnon (1813-1884) was his first cousin. On 16 June 1804 he was appointed ensign in the Coldstream guards, in which his...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kinnan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Kinnan migration to the United States | + |
Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Kinnan or a variant listed above:
Kinnan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Maggie L. Kinnan, aged 11, who landed in America, in 1893
- Margaret Kinnan, aged 43, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
- John S. Kinnan, aged 48, who immigrated to America, in 1895
Kinnan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- J.S. Kinnan, who landed in America, in 1903
- Mrs. John S. Kinnan, who landed in America, in 1904
- Albert Kinnan, aged 50, who immigrated to the United States, in 1905
- Chas. B. Kinnan, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
- Mrs J S Kinnan, aged 50, who settled in America, in 1907
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Kinnan (post 1700) | + |
- Timothy Alan Kinnan (b. 1948), Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force, son of Wally Kinnan
- Henry Wallace "Wally" Kinnan (1919-2002), American World War II highly decorated hero and prisoner of war, founder of the Sagan Serenaders at Stalag Luft III, later one of the first well known American television broadcast meteorologists
- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896-1953), American author
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Audentes fortuna juvat
Motto Translation: Fortune favours the bold
- Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
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