Surname Innes - Meaning and Origin

An Emotional Journey into Ancestry: The iGENEA DNA Test and the Legacy of the Surname Innes

Taking an iGENEA DNA test has led to an overwhelming journey into my ancestry, filled with both apprehension and exhilaration. It has deeply impacted how I perceive my surname, Innes, bringing familial ties and centuries-old legacy to the forefront of understanding my identity.

N. Innes

Innes: What does the surname Innes mean?

The name Innes originates from Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic word "innis", meaning "island". It is believed to have been first used as a surname to identify people living on an island or by an island.

Innes is a common surname in Scotland, with many people living in both Highland and Lowland Scotland today known to have this last name. Additionally, the name is found throughout England, Ireland, and many other parts of the world due to historical migratory patterns.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Innes is from 1296 in the Ragman Rolls of Scotland. From that point, there is a long recorded history of the name Innes, with people of the family taking part in and contributing to the history of Scotland. This includes historical figures like Alexander Innes, who was a noted churchman and theologian, and Sir Robert Innes, a Welsh knight and descendant of a knightly family in Aberdeenshire.

In modern days, the name remains quite popular. It is often used as a given name in Scotland, as well as throughout the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. The Innes family is known for its reputation for both strength and loyalty, and the name is still associated with these qualities today.

Innes: Where does the name Innes come from?

The surname Innes is of Scottish origin, and it is most common today in the United Kingdom. Countries like Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have relatively large Innes populations due to their historical ties to the UK.

In Scotland, the surname is especially popular in areas like Inverness, Elgin, Ross-shire, and the council area of Scottish Borders. In addition, smaller clusters of Innes families can be found in parts of the Angus and Aberdeenshire regions.

In Britain, the greatest number of Innes people is found in England, mainly in the London boroughs of Sutton and Lambeth. In Wales, the name is sparsely found in the counties of Gwynedd and Powys.

In North America, Canada has the largest number of people with the Innes name. Ontario is home to several Innes families, and larger numbers can also be found in territories like Alberta and British Columbia. In the United States, small numbers of Innes are scattered throughout the country, with a small concentration in Iowa, Nebraska, and California.

In the rest of the world, Innes is still a relatively rare surname. Smaller numbers of Innes families can be found in countries like India, the Netherlands, France, and Germany.

Variations of the surname Innes

The surname Innes is of Scottish origin. It derives from the Gaelic 'Aonasa' which means ‘one.’ Spellings of the Innes surname have included Anes, Aynes, Ennis, Haines, Hanes, Ines, Inis, and Innis.

Variants of the Innes surname include Mac Anes, Mac Aonghais, and Mac Aonghuis, which mean ‘son of Angus.' Another variant is Mac Cochinninnis, which means ‘son of Cochinninnis.' Mac Aonghusa is another variant, which means ‘son of Angus.' The Innes of the East are synonymous with the old Irish Ó hAonghusa, which means ‘descendant of Angus.'

The Innes surname is also associated with a sept of the old Earls of Sutherland in Scotland. They used to occupy the area close to the Dornoch Firth, but became extinct in the 15th century during the War for Goods. The earliest record of the Innes surname is from the 12th century, which shows William de Aynes of East Lothian in 1165.

Surnames associated with Innes include Hany, Haney, Hanney, Hadney, Hawney, Henney, Henny, Ennis, Enness, Inglis, Inness, Annis, Eanis, Einis, Mac Caffrithe, Mac Athinaich, Mac Aish, Mac Aebhinn, and Mac Anthoine.

The Innes clan was allied with the Atholl clan in Scotland and were allies of the royal Stewarts and also the MacGregors. The Innes were a powerful land-holding family in Scotland and were centred around the region of Inverness in Scotland and on the Isle of Man.

Famous people with the name Innes

• The most famous person with the last name Innes is Jack Innes, an English actor best known for playing Fraser in E4's The Inbetweeners and Simon Oxton in CBBC's The Sparticle Mystery.
• Cameron Innes, an American Millennial entrepreneur, philanthropist, influencer, and author.
• Jeff Innes, a former professional Canadian football player and Grey Cup champion.
• Stuart Innes, Former chairman of Siemens UK who was made a life peer.
• Sarah Innes, a Scottish singer-songwriter whose debut album earned her a Scottish Music Award.
• Christopher Innes, the dean of the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montreal.
• Iain Innes, the deputy editor of The Scotsman Newspaper.
• Katie Innes, a Scottish TV presenter and radio broadcaster.
• Hugh Innes, the manager of the West Australia Symphony Orchestra in Perth.
• Sharon Innes, a professional international ballroom and Latin American dancer.

Other surnames

InnersInnerstInness