MacKinnon vs. McKinnon?

[NeilMacKinnon]

Hi, I'm pretty much a beginner to this whole family tree thing (only been ernestly researching for a few weeks but been 'getting around to it' for a few years ).
I'm a MacKinnon.  I'm wondering what the difference is between MacKinnon's and McKinnons?
I've found a great-grandfather who's name on his birth certificate is Norman MacKinnon, however on the same certificate, his father is listed as Hector McKinnon.

[MonicaL]

Hi Hector

Welcome to RootsChat 

In answer to your question, there is no difference! Spelling variations you will find across most names when researching. A very common one is the Mc v. Mac spellings. Always worthwhile when researching for Mac names to look at both versions of the spellings and if there is a wildcard available, to look under M*c.

Monica 

[NeilMacKinnon]

Hi Monica.  Actually, my name is Neil.  My gg-grandfather's name is Hector McKinnon.
Thanks for clearing that up.  So can I assume (considering I'm a MacKinnon) that those families that now have a surname of McKinnon have basically adopted an incorrect spelling made centuries ago? 

[MonicaL]

Apologies Neil for getting your name wrong 

There is no right or wrong on the spellings of Mc/Mac names, simply what families adopted over the years. Surname spellings have become more fixed and rigid over the years, but historically the variations remain.

Monica

[iolair]

In my opinion, being someone with a Mc surname but has many ancestors who used the Mac prefix rather then the Mc, I think it doesn't really matter and that there is no difference.

So your gg-grandfather Hector was probably listed on Norman MacKinnons birth certificate as "Mc" simply as an abbreviation.

Was the c raised with two dots or one dot under it?

Good luck in your searches,
"iolair"

[Big-toshie]

I'm a MacKintosh (note the capital K!) however I discovered that this was only adopted in the early 1900's as it was considered "posher"! Before that it was MacIntosh then Macintosh or Mcintosh. Remember the earlier versions are closer to the way they were spelt in the Gaelic.  Also the spelling depended on how the registrar spelt it as the name owner could not read or write.
As, as has been said, always use the Soundex to get all variations.
happy hunting.
Bob

[jmgrgr]

Apparently, what was originally abbreviated  as M' became printed as M^c and is now typewritten/keyboarded as Mc .

After 1854, all BMD parish records were sent to the General Registry Office in Edinburgh to be compiled into an annual Register, sorted alphabetically. It listed names starting with Mac and M' , but none with Mc. (The 1927 Glasgow Directory is another example (see http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~glasgow/1927names447.jpg). )

A closer look at the Old Parish records and the General Registry records will show the names could have recorded as MacKinnon, Mackinnon or M'Kinnon, depending on the preferences of the clerk making the entry. My grandfather was born in a parish where the clerk used M'Gregor, so my name is McGregor. His younger sister was born a couple hundred yards away on the same estate, but in a different parish, so her surname was registered as MacGregor.  Two generations before, in a third parish, the family name was always registered as M'Grigor.  Our name didn't change, just the clerks who made the entries.

[grendlsmother]

And beware of census enumerators who spelled things as they liked or heard.   I have a connected family listed as McKenin which then later changed to McKim.

[NeilMacKinnon]

Wow, thanks for all these replies!  Its really interesting reading, and certainly helps clear up the confusion for me.  And I guess I should remember that not long ago, not everyone could read and write, so I can understand how spelling differences etc could arise!