Meaning & History
McInnes is a Scottish surname, a variant of MacInnes, which is itself an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Mac Aonghais, meaning "son of Aonghas."
Etymology and Origins
The name traces its roots through the Gaelic personal name Aonghas, a Scottish Gaelic form of Aonghus. The ultimate origin is the Old Irish Óengus, possibly derived from elements óen "one" and guss "force, strength," giving the meaning "one strength." In Irish mythology, Aonghus (sometimes called Mac Óg, "young son") was a god of love and youth, a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The name was also borne by several early historical figures, including an 8th-century Pictish king, numerous Irish kings, and a 9th-century bishop of Tallaght.
The surname McInnes, along with variants like MacAngus, MacInnes, and the Gaelic form MacAonghais, all derive from the same patronymic. Related surnames in Irish include Angus, Guinness, Hennessy, MacGinnis, MacGuinness, and Mag Aonghuis.
Notable Bearers
Several notable individuals have borne the surname McInnes. These include Alan McInnes, an Australian cricketer; Alison McInnes (born 1957), a Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP; Andrew McInnes (born 1992), an Australian rules footballer; Angus McInnes (fl. 1897–1903), a Scottish footballer for Burnley FC; Cameron McInnes (born 1994), an Australian rugby league player; Colin McInnes, with several notables including engineer Colin R. McInnes known for solar sail work; Derek McInnes (born 1971), Scottish football player and manager; and Donald McInnes (1939–2024), an American violist. The surname is most common in Scotland and regions settled by Scottish diaspora, particularly Australia and Canada.
- Meaning: "son of Aonghas"
- Origin: Scottish Gaelic
- Type: Surname
- Usage regions: Scotland, Australia, Canada
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — McInnes