The Mackenzie Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Mackenzie, its origins in Scotland, and the story behind a Mackenzie family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Mackenzie coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Mackenzie name
Mackenzie comes from Gaelic MacCoinnich, "son of Coinneach", a personal name meaning "comely, handsome" that is anglicized as Kenneth. Clan Mackenzie held Kintail in Wester Ross, with Eilean Donan castle as its stronghold, and expanded across Ross and Lewis. The z is a medieval Scots letter called yogh, once pronounced like y. The name is very common in Canada.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Mackenzie name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Mackenzie name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Mackenzie family history
The complete Mackenzie pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Mackenzie name FAQ
What does the Mackenzie name mean?
Son of Coinneach (Kenneth). Common variants include McKenzie, MacKenzie, Kenzie.
Where does the Mackenzie surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Is there a Mackenzie coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Mackenzie crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Mackenzie coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).