MacInnes spelling variants
and clan associations

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 M^c (the c is usually elevated), especially in the United States. The M' or M^c 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.