McKinley (name)

McKinley, MacKinley or Mackinlay is a Scottish and Irish surname historically associated with northwestern Ireland's County Donegal, the over-kingdom of Ulaid in northeastern Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.

One derivation given is that the McKinley are of the ancient Ulaid race and are a branch of its "Red Branch" MacDunleavy (dynasty) royal house of the Dal Fiatach which dominated the kingship of the over-kingdom of Ulaid (original Gaelic language Mac Duinnshléibhe). Etymology for the origins of the surname proposes that the Anglicized surname McKinley, like the surname MacNulty (Gaelic Mac an Ultaigh, trans. "son of the ultonian, ulidian or ulsterman"), arose originally from a Gaelic nickname given the deposed MacDunleavy dynasty royals while exiled in Tirconnell and elsewhere. Being, also, one of Ireland's ancient hereditary medical families, the MacDunleavy (variant English spelling MacDonlevy) were in Tirconnell accorded the high Gaelic status of "ollahm leighis" or the official physicians to the O'Donnell clan in County Donegal and practiced as physicians while exiled in Argyll, Scotland.^[1] The nickname was Mac an Leigh. Per this scenario the Gaelic language patronymic forming prefix "Mac" (meaning "descended of")^[2]^[3]^[4] is joined to the Gaelic language "Léigh" meaning leech, but denoting a physician.^[5]^[6] Leeching having been for millennia, in Gaelic Ireland and elsewhere, a commonly employed medical practice.^[7]

Otherwise, the name is said to be of Scottish origin, meaning 'son of Finlay'.^[8]^[9]

Notable people with the surname "McKinley" include

A

Ada S. McKinley (1868–1952), American educator
Alvin McKinley (born 1978), American football player
Andrew McKinley (1903–1996), American musician
Ashley Chadbourne McKinley (1896–1970), American photographer

B

Ben McKinley (born 1987), Australian rules footballer
Bill McKinley (1910–1980), American baseball umpire
Bill McKinley (footballer) (1882–1952), Australian rules footballer
Brunson McKinley (born 1943), American diplomat

C

Carl McKinley (1895–1966), American composer
Cedric McKinley (born 1987), American football player
Charles McKinley (1902–1983), English footballer
Charlie McKinley (1903–1990), Australian rules footballer
Chuck McKinley (1941–1986), American tennis player
Craig McKinley (disambiguation), multiple people

D

David McKinley (born 1947), American politician
Dennis McKinley (born 1976), American football player
Dominic McKinley (born 1960), Irish sportsperson

E

Elizabeth McKinley, New Zealand academic
Elliott Miles McKinley (born 1969), American composer
Emma McKinley (born 1980), Irish bank manager

G

Galen McKinley, American professor
Gareth H. McKinley, American professor
George E. McKinley (1872–1941), American politician

I

Ian McKinley (born 1989), Irish-Italian rugby union footballer
Ida Saxton McKinley (1847–1907), American social figure
Ivan McKinley (born 1969), South African soccer player

J

James McKinley (disambiguation), multiple people
Javon McKinley (born 1998), American football player
J. C. McKinley (1891–1950), American neurologist
J. Edward McKinley (1917–2004), American actor
Jennifer McKinley, Northern Irish scientist
Jesse McKinley (born 1970), American journalist
Joanne McKinley (born 1988), Irish cricketer
John McKinley (1780–1852), American politician
John C. McKinley (1859–1927), American politician and lawyer
Joseph H. McKinley Jr. (born 1954), American judge
Joss McKinley (born 1981), British photographer
J. W. McKinley (1891–1957), American politician

K

Kathryn S. McKinley (born 1962), American computer scientist
Kelly McKinley, Canadian-American museum curator
Kenny McKinley (1987–2010), American football player
Kent S. McKinley (1898–1972), American politician

L

Larry McKinley (1927–2013), American music promoter
L. C. McKinley (1918–1970), American guitarist
Lee McKinley (1906–1986), American politician

M

Mairead McKinley (born 1970), Northern Irish actress
Michael McKinley (born 1954), American diplomat

P

Paul McKinley (born 1947), American politician
Peter McKinley (1811–??), American politician

R

Ray McKinley (1910–1995), American musician
Richard McKinley (1886–1951), American politician
Robert McKinley (disambiguation), multiple people
Robin McKinley (born 1952), American author
Rodney J. McKinley (born 1956), American air force officer
Ruth Gowdy McKinley (1931–1981), American-Canadian artist
Richard Malone McKinley {1930-2012}, Professional Boat Racer

T

Takkarist McKinley (born 1995), American football player
Tamara McKinley (born 1948), British-Australian author
Therese McKinley (1928–2021), American baseball player
Thomas McKinley (1888–1949), Australian politician

V

Vern McKinley, American political advisor
Verone McKinley III (born 2000), American football player
Virgil McKinley (1874–1954), American football coach

W

Wes McKinley (born 1945), American politician
William McKinley (disambiguation), multiple people

Notable people with the given name "McKinley" include

McKinley Bailey (born 1980), American politician
McKinley Belcher III (born 1984), American actor
McKinley Blackburn, American economist
McKinley Boston (born 1945), American academic administrator
McKinley Boykin (born 1983), American football player
McKinley Brewer (1896–1955), American baseball player
McKinley Burnett (1897–1968), American lawyer
McKinley Dixon (born 1995), American musician
McKinley Freeman (born 1973), American actor
McKinley Hunt (born 1997), Canadian rugby union footballer
McKinley Mitchell (1934–1986), American singer
McKinley Moore (born 1998), American baseball player
McKinley L. Price (born 1949), American politician
McKinley Singleton (born 1961), American basketball player
McKinley Tennyson (born 1979), American soccer player
McKinley Thompson Jr. (1922–2006), American automotive designer
McKinley Washington Jr. (1936–2022), American politician
McKinley Wright IV (born 1997), American basketball player

Fictional characters

Dash McKinley, a character on the Australian television series Blue Heelers
Ian McKinley, a character from the third installment of the film series Final Destination
Protagonist in the 1975 Soviet film The Flight of Mr. McKinley

References

^ Edward MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland, 5th Edition, Irish Academic Press, Dublin, 1980, pp. 238, 292, citing to 2 entries in The Annals of the Four Masters, which is a historical chronicle that records, among other matter, the births and deaths of Gaelic nobility. The first entry cited is an entry recording the 1395 A.D. death of a Maurice, the son of one “Paul Utach”, who is, himself, recorded there to be “Chief Physician of Tyrconnell” and also as “Paul the Ulidian”. It is there in the Annals further stated by its authors of the father Paul Ultach that “This is the present usual Irish name of the Mac Donlevy, who were originally chiefs of Ulaid. The branch of the family who became physicians to O’Donnell are still extant (at time of compilation of the Annals in the 17th century just after the fall of the last Gaelic sovereignty of Tyrconnell in 1607), near Kilmacrenan, in the county of Donegal.” The second citation is to an entry recording the 1586 A.D. death of "Owen Utach", who is therein noted to be a particularly distinguished and skilled physician. The Annals compilers further elaborate of Owen Ultach at this entry that “His real name was Donlevy or, Mac Donlevy. He was physician to O’Donnell.”
^ Adolph, Anthony Collins Tracing Your Irish Family History (2010) Harper Collins, Part 4 “Tracing ancient Irish roots”, p. 232, noting that the Mac prefix element of a Gaelic patronymic surname or clan name is not actually the Gaelic word Mac, meaning in English son, but, is a shortened form of the original pre 11th century Gaelic prefix “mac meic” meaning “the son of the son of … etc.”
^ Also, The World Book Dictionary, in 2 volumes, Volume 2 (L-Z), Chicago, World Book, Inc., © 2005, ISBN 978-0-7166-0201-9 (set), ISBN 0-7166-0201-6 (set), p. 1528 “patronymic … a name derived from name of paternal ancestor, especially by addition of a prefix … (usage example) MacDonald meaning ‘descendant of Donald’ …”
^ The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, in 2 volumes, Oxford, Oxford University Press, © 1971, 26th printing July, 1987, Vol. 1 (A-O), p. 1960, noting the “Mac” and “O” element of a Gaelic language patronymic normally functions as a dynastic claim, “O, O’ … The Irish word ō, ua, OIr. au, ‘descendant’, used as a prefix of Irish patronymic surnames … a member of an ancient Irish family. … P. Gillmore Hunter’s Arcadia, An Irishman who claims his direct descent from Finn McCoul or some king whose name begins with an ‘O’ or ‘Mc’. ” The prefixes, however, are as in this etymology for McKinley, in fact though rarely, attached to, themselves, rare Gaelic language nickname surnames. See Anthony Adolf Collins Tracing Your Irish History Harper Collins (2010), pp. 230–233, also, noting additionally, though, that the normal function of these alternative prefixes is to claim lineage to a royal house.
^ Susan Wilkinson, “Early Medical Education in Ireland”, Irish Migration Studies in Latin America, Vol. 6, No. 3 (November 2008), p. 157
^ "Origin of the Name, McNULTY". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013., Origin of the Surname, McNulty, and its Association with the McDonlevys/Dunleavys of County Down, section “Dunleavy Variants: Dunlops, Leavys, Levingstones and McKinlays”, also, noting William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, was of Antrim (n) stock, noting that the McKinley were actually in association with the McNulty in exile in Tirconnell, noting that like McNulty, McKinley was also an agnomen of the Donlevy physicians of Tirconnell, and noting, finally, at section “Migration of the Duleavys from County Down” a significant early presence of the McKinley name in Tirconnell
^ Rev. Patrick Woulfe, Priest of the Diocese of Limerick, Member of the Council, National Academy of Ireland, Irish Names and Surnames, © 1967 Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, in Irish and English, pp. 355–356, The surname McKinley is here said to actually be synonymous with the surname McNulty.
^ Black, George F. (1946). The Surnames of Scotland (1993 ed.). Edinburgh: New York Public Library/Birlinn. p. 413. ISBN 978-1-874744-07-8. MACKINLAY, MACKINLEY. This name is the Gaelic form of FINLAYSON, both meaning ′son of FINLAY,′ q.v. In Gaelic orthography the name is MacFionnlaigh. The name is distinctly a Scottish one, but is found also in the north of Ireland (Antrim) among the descendants of the Scots Plantation of Ulster.
^ Grimble, Ian (1973). Scottish Clans and Tartans. Hamlyn. p. 171. ISBN 0600317269. it derives from Mac Fhionnlaigh, Son of Finlay

[1] Edward MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland, 5th Edition, Irish Academic Press, Dublin, 1980, pp. 238, 292, citing to 2 entries in The Annals of the Four Masters, which is a historical chronicle that records, among other matter, the births and deaths of Gaelic nobility. The first entry cited is an entry recording the 1395 A.D. death of a Maurice, the son of one “Paul Utach”, who is, himself, recorded there to be “Chief Physician of Tyrconnell” and also as “Paul the Ulidian”. It is there in the Annals further stated by its authors of the father Paul Ultach that “This is the present usual Irish name of the Mac Donlevy, who were originally chiefs of Ulaid. The branch of the family who became physicians to O’Donnell are still extant (at time of compilation of the Annals in the 17th century just after the fall of the last Gaelic sovereignty of Tyrconnell in 1607), near Kilmacrenan, in the county of Donegal.” The second citation is to an entry recording the 1586 A.D. death of "Owen Utach", who is therein noted to be a particularly distinguished and skilled physician. The Annals compilers further elaborate of Owen Ultach at this entry that “His real name was Donlevy or, Mac Donlevy. He was physician to O’Donnell.”

[2] Adolph, Anthony Collins Tracing Your Irish Family History (2010) Harper Collins, Part 4 “Tracing ancient Irish roots”, p. 232, noting that the Mac prefix element of a Gaelic patronymic surname or clan name is not actually the Gaelic word Mac, meaning in English son, but, is a shortened form of the original pre 11th century Gaelic prefix “mac meic” meaning “the son of the son of … etc.”

[3] Also, The World Book Dictionary, in 2 volumes, Volume 2 (L-Z), Chicago, World Book, Inc., © 2005, ISBN 978-0-7166-0201-9 (set), ISBN 0-7166-0201-6 (set), p. 1528 “patronymic … a name derived from name of paternal ancestor, especially by addition of a prefix … (usage example) MacDonald meaning ‘descendant of Donald’ …”

[4] The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, in 2 volumes, Oxford, Oxford University Press, © 1971, 26th printing July, 1987, Vol. 1 (A-O), p. 1960, noting the “Mac” and “O” element of a Gaelic language patronymic normally functions as a dynastic claim, “O, O’ … The Irish word ō, ua, OIr. au, ‘descendant’, used as a prefix of Irish patronymic surnames … a member of an ancient Irish family. … P. Gillmore Hunter’s Arcadia, An Irishman who claims his direct descent from Finn McCoul or some king whose name begins with an ‘O’ or ‘Mc’. ” The prefixes, however, are as in this etymology for McKinley, in fact though rarely, attached to, themselves, rare Gaelic language nickname surnames. See Anthony Adolf Collins Tracing Your Irish History Harper Collins (2010), pp. 230–233, also, noting additionally, though, that the normal function of these alternative prefixes is to claim lineage to a royal house.

[5] Susan Wilkinson, “Early Medical Education in Ireland”, Irish Migration Studies in Latin America, Vol. 6, No. 3 (November 2008), p. 157

[6] "Origin of the Name, McNULTY". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013., Origin of the Surname, McNulty, and its Association with the McDonlevys/Dunleavys of County Down, section “Dunleavy Variants: Dunlops, Leavys, Levingstones and McKinlays”, also, noting William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, was of Antrim (n) stock, noting that the McKinley were actually in association with the McNulty in exile in Tirconnell, noting that like McNulty, McKinley was also an agnomen of the Donlevy physicians of Tirconnell, and noting, finally, at section “Migration of the Duleavys from County Down” a significant early presence of the McKinley name in Tirconnell

[7] Rev. Patrick Woulfe, Priest of the Diocese of Limerick, Member of the Council, National Academy of Ireland, Irish Names and Surnames, © 1967 Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, in Irish and English, pp. 355–356, The surname McKinley is here said to actually be synonymous with the surname McNulty.

[8] Black, George F. (1946). The Surnames of Scotland (1993 ed.). Edinburgh: New York Public Library/Birlinn. p. 413. ISBN 978-1-874744-07-8. MACKINLAY, MACKINLEY. This name is the Gaelic form of FINLAYSON, both meaning ′son of FINLAY,′ q.v. In Gaelic orthography the name is MacFionnlaigh. The name is distinctly a Scottish one, but is found also in the north of Ireland (Antrim) among the descendants of the Scots Plantation of Ulster.

[9] Grimble, Ian (1973). Scottish Clans and Tartans. Hamlyn. p. 171. ISBN 0600317269. it derives from Mac Fhionnlaigh, Son of Finlay

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Notable people with the surname "McKinley" include

A

B

C

D

E

G

I

J

K

L

M

P

R

T

V

W

Notable people with the given name "McKinley" include

Fictional characters

See also

References