Clan MacInnes

Clan MacInnes is a highland Scottish clan originating in the Argyll district of Scotland.  The surname MacInnes is derived from the Gaelic name MacAonghais which translates into the sons of Angus.  The legendary progenitor of the clan is believed to be Oengus or Angus who lived in the 4th century and was of indigenous Pictish descent. In the 9th century the clan left the western isles of Scotland and settled in Morvern, Argyll.  This move was most likely caused by viking raids.

The motto of the clan is Ghift Dhe Agus An Righ which translates into “By the grace of God and king”, and the crest features an arm holding a bow.

The historic seat of the clan is Kinlochaline Castle located in Morvern, Scotland.  The castle is also known as Caisteal an Ime, due to a legend that the lady of Clan MacInnes was said to have paid the castle builder with butter that equaled the volume of the castle.  The castle was attacked and besieged by Alasdair Mac Colla in 1644.  The castle was again attacked in 1679 by the Campbell clan and in 1690 the castle was completely abandoned.  It went through reconstruction in the 1990s by Historic Scotland and is now a private residence.

In 1358, the last chief of Clan MacInnes was killed with his sons by members of Clan MacLean under orders from MacDonald, The Lord of the Isles.  The MacInneses remain without a chief but did receive and official apology in 1997 from the chief of Clan MacLean at the Glenfinnan Games.  In 1970 the Clan MacInnes Society was formed with the goal to “restore the Clan’s formal identity”.