Mackenzie

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ORIGIN & HISTORY

The name Mackenzie originated from the Gaelic surname MacCoinneach, quite literally meaning "son of Coinneach." However, since Coinneach means "fair or handsome," more creative translations of Mackenzie could be "child of the fair or handsome one, child of the wise ruler, child of the bright one, born of fire, fire-born, finely made, favored one, comely, or good looking."

The Mackenzie clan has flourished in Scotland dating back to the 13th Century, at which time Coinneach MacCoinneach (Kenneth son of Kenneth) supposedly held the title of the 3rd Baron of Kintail. Some historians claim that the clan descended from members of the House of Geraldine in Ireland, who had resettled in Scotland in 1261. The name Coinneach or Kenneth later became Mackenzie, with a pronunciation initially resembling "McKenny."

POPULARITY

The family name Mackenzie has steadily grown in Scotland, reaching its peak as the 16th most common name in the country in 1958. The name Mackenzie as a girl's name has experienced quite a surge in popularity in the United States recently, rising to the top 50 in the past few years, up from the top 100 in the 1990s, and only in the top 500 in the 1980s. As a boy's name in the U.S., Mackenzie has not seen quite the success as its female counterpart, instead averaging comfortably in the top 1000 for the past 10 years.

FACTS

• The Gaelic name Cinead anglicized to Kenneth just as Coinneach did, and it was the name Cinead that is said to have meant "fire-born."
• Flames are illustrated throughout Clan Mackenzie's Blazon of Arms along with the motto, "Luceo non uro," meaning "I shine, not burn."
• It has been theorized that the name Coinneach comes from the pagan god Cerunnos. A stag's head is depicted on the shield of the Mackenzie clan, bearing a resemblance to Cerunnos, who is also known as "The Horned One" or "The Green Man."

NAMESAKES

• A Bull Terrier named Honey Tree Evil Eye was made famous by her role as Spuds MacKenzie in the Bud Light ads of the late 1980s.
• The Mackenzie River is the longest in Canada named after the Scottish-Canadian explorer Alexander Mackenzie who discovered it. He initially hoped that it would lead to the Cook Inlet in Alaska and the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean, but the river instead led him to the Arctic Ocean. Rightfully bummed out, he originally named it Disappointment River.
• Three U.S. Navy ships have donned the name USS MacKenzie, the first leaving port in 1899, and the last docking for good in 1971.
• Of utmost significance, the 1983 movie Strange Brew chronicles the adventures of Canada's most famous hosers, Bob and Doug McKenzie, played and written by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Laura Mackenzie Phillips (11/10/59-?), daughter of the male lead singer of The Mamas & the Papas, played 13-year-old Carol in the movie American Graffiti and also starred alongside Valerie Bertinelli in the sitcom "One Day at a Time."
• Mackenzie Astin, (5/12/73-?), son of Patty Duke and John Astin, played Andy in the sitcom "The Facts of Life. His brother, actor Sean Astin, gave him the proverbial shout-out when he screams "Holy Mackenzie!" in the 1985 movie The Goonies.
• Mackenzie Crook (9/29/71-?) is known from England's TV comedy The Office and is also recognized by his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean films as Ragetti, whose wooden eye is always popping out.
• Mackenzie Thorpe (1956-?) is a world-renowned British artist.
• William Lyon Mackenzie (1795-1861) was a Scot who went on to become a Canadian journalist, politician, and rebellion leader, as well as the first mayor of Toronto in 1834.

OTHER MACKENZIE'S

Mackenzie Smith, Mackenzie Johnson, Mackenzie Williams, Mackenzie Jones, Mackenzie Brown, Mackenzie Davis, Mackenzie Miller, Mackenzie Wilson, Mackenzie Moore, Mackenzie Taylor, Mackenzie Ackles, Mackenzie Agee, Mackenzie Aho, Mackenzie Ames, Mackenzie Abbott, Mackenzie Abel, Mackenzie Adamson, Mackenzie Adkins, Mackenzie Ahnefeld, Mackenzie Akbar, Mackenzie Alabama, Mackenzie Alexander, Mackenzie Allan, Mackenzie Allman, Mackenzie Alvarez, Mackenzie Alyea, Mackenzie Amis, Mackenzie Amundson, Mackenzie Anderson, Mackenzie Andrews, Mackenzie Anger, Mackenzie Angner, Mackenzie Annis, Mackenzie April, Mackenzie Archenhold, Mackenzie Archie, Mackenzie Ardhuerumly, Mackenzie Aderman, Mackenzie Ainsworth, Mackenzie Allbritton, Mackenzie Allison, Mackenzie Altland, Mackenzie Ambrose, Mackenzie Annunziata, Mackenzie Aristuk, Mackenzie Abfall, Mackenzie Adams, Mackenzie Agin, Mackenzie Agnant, Mackenzie Allen, More results

Author: Billy Brody