MacKinney Coat of Arms and Surname Origin

MacKinney is how some branches of the McKinney family came to write their name. Surname dictionaries give the meaning as “Son of Cionaodh (Kenneth)”. Before spelling was fixed, McKinney was also written MacKinney. Spellings drifted because names were written down by ear in parish books, tax rolls and passenger lists. Related forms: McKinny and McKenney.

MacKinney ranked 73,215 in the 2010 US Census, with 265 people answering to the name.

Heraldry is personal: arms associated with the McKinney surname were borne by specific families, and sharing the name does not mean sharing the blazon. Want more than a summary? See the MacKinney family name pack.