| Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format |
| Celtic Radio Community > Surnames & Heraldry > MacKenzie |
| Posted by: Macfive 28-Oct-2006, 05:29 PM |
| Background: The surname itself is rendered in Gaelic as 'Maccoinneach', meaning 'son of the fair bright one'. It has been suggested that the name alludes to the pagan god Cerunos, who is often depicted as having a stag's head or antlers; this may be one explanation for the gold stag's head on the chief's shield. The Mackenzies were one of the clans who held lands in Ross between Aird on the east coast and Kintail on the west. They are believed to share a common ancestery with Clan Matheson and Clan Anrais, all three descending from the Celtic dynast Gilleoin of the Aird, who lived at the beginning of teh twelfth century. By 1267 the family seem to have been settled at Eilean Donan, the great Mackenzie stronghold at the mouth of Loch Duich. Variations: Charles, Charleson, Cluness, Clunies, Cromarty, Iverach, Iverson, Ivory, Kenneth, Kennethson, Kynoch, MacAweeney, MacBeolain, MacConnach, MacIver, MacIvor, MacKenna, MacKenney, MacKenzie, MacKerlich, MacKinney, MacMurchie, MacMurchy, MacQueenie, MacVanish, MacVinish, MacVinnie, MacWeeny, MacWhinnie, Murchie, Murchison, Smart More Info: http://heraldry.celticradio.net/search.php?id=42 Discussion of this family is welcomed. |