MacKinnon Heraldry

[kmaclea]

I see that the Boar is holding a deer bone in its mouth as well, which might be a linguistic association with the name MacKinnon, some reference to its earliest reference in this "Book of Deer"????:

"MACKINNON, MacFhionghuin ,MacFhionnghain or McFionguine.
The old Gaelic personal name occurs in the Book of Deer in the genitive as Finguni." http://www.turningwood.fsnet.co.uk/clanmackinnon.html

As hypothesized, supposedly the castle referenced is here:
"The castle, properly called Dun Haakon, was a broch (a circular dry-stone tower) commanding the narrow sound between Skye and the mainland." (same site, castle totem)

And here is the reference to the old abbey lands of Iona, so that makes sense too, as you said:
"The Mackinnons were closely connected with the abbacy of Iona, Like the other Alpin branch MacFie, they had at least a interest in the holy Isle of Iona, where several MacFingons or MacKinnons were abbots. " (same site, this would go along with the hand-and-cross)

Still think the Galley is as above.

K=

[kmaclea]

This site explains the boar and deer bone bit:

"The MacKinnon crest is an unusual one. It is a boar's head, which is common enough in the Highlands, but with the shankbone of a deer in its mouth. The story of this crest is that in the fourteenth century The MacKinnon was hunting on the shores of Loch Scavaig in Skye. He became separated from his hunting party and sheltered for the night in a cave, where he kindled a fire to broil some venison. A wild boar entered the cave and attacked him just as he was slicing some meat from a haunch. With presence of mind, he thrust the bone into the jaws of the beast, jamming them open, and killed it with the knife." (http://home.earthlink.net/~heartofthelotus/id19.html)

Furthermore, it states about the Columba connection:
"The MacKinnons were always a small clan but seem to have enjoyed a prestige greater than one would expect, perhaps from their Iona and Columban connection."

Hope this helps.

K=

[Ancienne Alliance]

Thank You Kyle