Gaelic MacFhionghuin or MacFhionnghain, in 1601 McFiongulne (Coll., p. 202). The old Gaelic personal name occurs in the Book of Deer in the genitive as Finguni. The middle Irish forms are Finghin and Finnguine, Elr. Finguine, and modern Irish Findgaine. These forms point to prehistoric Gaelic: Vindo-gonio-s, 'fair-born.' Finguine mac Drostain was killed in a civil war among the Picts at Monticarno in 728 (AU.). The Mackinnbns, says Skene, were "closely connected with the abbacy of Iona, and repeatedly furnished abbots to that monastery" (CS., III, p. 363). Their connection with the affairs of Iona, however, as the editor of Highland Papers remarks, was "not always apparently to the advantage of the church" (HP., IV, p. 171: see also I, p. 83-84). In the old burial ground known as Cladh Beg at Kirkapoll, Tiree, is the tombstone of a prior of this name: Fingonivs. prior, de. Y. me. dedid. Philippo. Iohannis. et. svis filiis. Anno. Domini. M°CCCC°XCV° (Beveridge, Coll and Tiree, p. 150). Lachlann Makfingane witnessed a charter by Donald de Ile, dominus Insularum, to Hector Macgilleone, dominus de Doward, 1 November 1409 (recited in confirmation charter of 1495, RMS., II, 2264). A later Lachlann M'Fynwyn de Myschenys witnessed a charter by the lord of the Isles in 1467 (Cawdor, p. 50). John, son of Lachlann, was abbot of Iona in the end of the fifteenth century. In 1489 he erected a cross in memory of his father and himself: Hec: est: crux: Lacclanni: meic: Fingone: et: eius: filti: Johannis: X; abbatls de Hu: facta: anno: domini: m°cccc°lxxx°ix° (Drummond, Sculptured monuments in Iona, pl, xxxvi). He died in 1500, and on the edge of his own monument is inscribed: annes Macfingone abbas de Y qvi obiit anno dni rnillesimo qvin (ibid., pl. XIV). William Makfihgoun who was reader in Paisley shortly after the Reformation, 1560 (RMR.; Lees, Paisley, p. 240) may be William Makkynnane who was presented to the parsonage and vicarage of Dingwall, 1587 (RSS.). Archibald M'Fingan and Neil M'Fingan in Sallum, Tiree, were denounced rebels in 1675 (HP., I, p. 296). In Kintyre and in Arran the local Gaelic pronunciation is MacEanain, and in Skye a current form of the name is Mac innon. A popular etymology is MacIonmhuinn, from ionrnhuinn, 'dear' 'beloved,' which has led some Mackinnons to Anglicize their name 'Love' or 'Low,' but all bearers of these names are not disguised Mackinnons. See Love. M'Fingon 1664, McFyngoun 1557, McGinowne 1662, Makenone and Makkynnon 1536, M'Kinin 1745, M'Kinnen 1673, M'Kinoun 1675, Mackiynnan 1545, Makkynine 1506, McKynnoun 1621, McKynnand 1586, McKynnowne 1609, McPhingone 1681, McYnun 1577. In the north of Ireland it has become McKennan, M'Cannon.

(Celtic) Son of Fingon=Fair- Birth [Gaelic mac, son + the aspirated form of fi(o)nn, fair + a derivative of gin, to beget]

(Scottish) The son of Findgaine (fair-born).

They are closely connected with the Macdonalds of the Isles, and have no history independent of that clan. Skene, ii. 259. Ultimately however they became a distinct clan. Burke (L.G.) derives them from Fingon, youngest son of Alpin, king of Scotland. The name Macfingon became afterwards Macfinden, and then Mackinnon.