The Clan History

The MacInnes's are of ancient Celtic origin, with the name MacAoghuis being Gaelic for "son of Angus". The ancestors were probably amoung the earliest settlers of Dalriada and were said to have formed a branch of the Siol Gillebride, believed to be the original inhabitants of Morven and Ardnamurchan. Old tradition has it that the MacInnes were promised favour by the Lord of the Isles. A later chief of the Clan MacInnes was appointed Constable of the Castle of Kinlochaline and was still held by a MacInnes when it was burnt by Coll Kitto in 1648. The clan suffered severly early in the 13th century during the conquest of Argyll by Alexander II and at about this time the clan moved under the protection of the Campbells. They supported the Covenantors against Charles I and later supported the Hanoverians against the Jacobites under the Campbells, although there also seems to have been a MacInnes appointed as Hereditary Bowmen to the chiefs of clan MacKinnon. Another group of MacInnes were also to be found as followers of the Stewarts of Ardshiel and as such supported the Jacobite struggle. Of those MacInnes who emigrated, Donald MacInnes became a merchant and later Senator in Canada and Renn MacInnes became Bishop of Jerusalem in 1914.
Branches: MacInnes of Kinlochaline, MacInnes of Malagawatch, MacInnes of Morven, MacInnes of Rickersby
Tartan: MacInnes
Motto: Irid ghibht Dhe agus an Righ (Gaelic : Through the grace of God and the King)
Septs of the Clan: Angus, MacAngus, MacCainsh, MacCansh, MacMaster.
Names associated with the clan: Aengus Ainas Anegos Anegous Anegus Angas Anggues Angous Anguis Angus Anguss Aonas Aonghas Aonghus Canch Keanish Kenish Kenneis Kennish Kinnes Kinnis MacAinish MacAinsh MacAnce MacAngus MacAnish MacAnsh MacAonghus MacCainsh MacCance MacCanch MacCanish MacCaniss MacCans MacCanse MacCansh MacCants MacHinch MacIlnaey MacInas MacInnes MacInnesh MacInness MacInnis MacInnisch MacInnish MacKance MacKants MacKanyss MacKinish MacKinnes MacKinness MacKinnis MacKinshe MacKmaster MacMagister MacMaster MacNeish MacQuinnes MacYnwiss Maistersone Maistertoun Maistertoune Maistertown Makangus Makanys Masterson Masterton Mastertone Naische Naish Naos Neasch Neis Neische Neish Nes Nesche Ness Nies Niesh Nish