McKin

McKin is a surname of Scottish origin that appears in genealogical records dating back to the 15th century. It derives from the Gaelic patronymic Mac, meaning “son of,” combined with the shortened form of the personal name Kenneth or a related patronym. The name was traditionally used to denote a descendant of a particular family head named Kenneth. In its early usage, McKin was localized to the Lowlands and Highland regions of Scotland, particularly in the counties of Angus and Perthshire.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, waves of Scottish emigration carried the surname to North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Census and immigration documents from the United States and Canada record the name on a modest number of individuals, primarily clustered in states such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. Colonial records in Canada note individuals bearing the name in the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia, often engaged in agriculture or small‑scale commerce.

The name has not been recorded frequently among contemporary public figures and has largely remained a private surname rather than entering popular culture. Nevertheless, it is occasionally seen in academic publications and genealogical studies discussing Scottish diaspora patterns. Researchers and genealogists can consult the Scotland’s People database, the National Records of Scotland, and the U.S. Federal Census files for more detailed lineage information concerning the McKin family name.