795 Global McKinlay Family Members

McKinlay Family History

Recorded as McKinlay and McKinley, this is a surname of early medieval Gaelic origins. It may be either Irish or Scottish and derives from the pre 10th century name Mac Fhionnlaigh, meaning the son of the white skinned warrior from "fionn", meaning fair or white skinned, and "laoch", a warrior. It is therefore probably an ethnic name for a Norseman. Over the centuries the surname under went considerable development including: such spellings as Makkinla (1528); Macinle (1605); M'keandlay (1627); M'Finlay (1663); and McIndlay (1667). Sir John Finlosoun, alias MacFhionnlaigh, was vicar of Kilmorich in 1511, and John M'Ynla noted in the Black Book of Taymouth, attested a bond of man rent in Glenurquhay in 1561...