MacInnes spelling variants
and clan associations

Mac and Mc are interchangable, although both are shown here.

This list is not exhaustive.

The MacInnes variants are derived from the original Gaelic ‘MacAonghais’ (Son of Angus).
Angus
Canch
Cansh
Caunce
Hance
MacAngus
MacAninsh
MacAinish
MacAinsh
MacAneiss
MacAninch
MacAnish
MacAnsh
MacAonghais
MacAonghuis
MacCainsh
MacCance
MacCanchie
MacCanish
MacCans
MacCansh
MacEnys
MacGinnes
MacGinnis
MacGuenis
Machans
MacHinch
MacInch
MacIninch
MacInish
MacInnes
MacInnis
MacInnisch
MacInnish
MacKance
MacKants
MacKinnes
MacKinness
MacKinnis
MacKinnish
MacKynes
MacQuinnes
Magennis
McAinish
McAneiss
McAngus
McAninch
McAnish
McAnsh
McCainsh
McCance
McCanchie
McCanish
McCans
McCanse
McCansh
McEnys
McGinnes
McGinnis
McGuenis
McHinch
McIninch
McInish
McInnes
McInnisch
McInnish
McInnis
McInsh
McKants
McKinness
McKinnis
McKinniss
McKinnish
McKynes
Kinnes
Kinnis
Kynnes

The MacMasters ‘Clann a’Mhaister’ are descended from MacMaster, a MacInnes Chief of Ardgour.
<MacMaster/MacInnes Connection
>
<The Vanished MacMasters of Kintail
>
MacMaster
MacMasters
McMaster
McMasters
Masters
Masterson

MacNeish, or MacNaosis in Gaelic, is derived from the Irish MacAonghusa or MacAonghais and the Antrim name Neeson in Gaelic is MacAonghusa or MacAonghais. The association is the common name MacAonghais, a physical connection with Clan MacInnes has not been established.
<Updated Story here>
MacNeice
MacNeish
MacNesh
MacNess
MacNichie
MacNinsh
MacNish
McNeice
McNeish
McNinch
McNinsh
McNess
McNichie
McNesh
McNish
Neish
Ness
Niesh
Neeson
.
.

All persons of these listed names or descent are entitled to wear the MacInnes tartans. There are many other spelling variants that have not been listed here.

Surnames were very little used prior to the seventeenth century - patronymics (name/s derived from the father or ancestor) were the 'names' used by Highlanders.  Mac was one of the original prefixes for "son of", but this has been shortened to Mc, M' or Mc (the c is usually elevated), especially in the United States. The M' or Mc mean the a or ac has been removed, but now most people are formally using Mc. Alphabetically, all three are normally listed as if they had the a included.

The MacInnes variants are derived from the original Gaelic ‘MacAonghais’ (Son of Angus). The MacMasters ‘Clann a’Mhaister’ are descended from MacMaster, a MacInnes Chief of Ardgour. MacNeish, or MacNaosis in Gaelic, is derived from the Irish MacAonghusa or MacAonghais and the Antrim name Neeson in Gaelic is MacAonghusa or MacAonghais.

Why are Angus or MacAngus  names considered to be associated with MacInnes, go here.

An ancient confederation is said to have existed between the Clans of MacInnes, MacGillivray, MacMaster and MacEachern. This confederation was known as the ‘Siol Gillebride’ (The seed or descendants of Gillebride).

The Sleat historian Hugh MacDonald tells us that the principle surnames in Morvern were MacInnes and MacGillivray – “who are the same as the MacInneses.” James Logan the historian also says that the early MacGillivrays of Mull “seem to be otherwise called MacAonghais or MacInnes.”

MacInnes history cites kinship links with Clan Donald, the Stewarts of Appin and Clan Dougall - the Campbells of Craignish. The MacGregors used the name MacInnes and its variants during the proscription of the name MacGregor.

The female version of Mac (Son of) is Nic ( Daughter of). So instead of MacAonghais it would be NicAonghais.

MacInnes is not, nor has it ever been, a sept of any other clan. Some references can be found stating MacInnes as a sept. These are incorrect. Clan Innes a separate Clan and is not related to Clan MacInnes.

May 23, 2003
Added Angus/MacAngus information from Donald MacInnes
Updated October 29, 2002
Reference: Donald MacInnes correspondence Oct, 2002
March 17, 2003

New material from Donald MacInnes, published in Thistle and Bee, March, 2003