McKinnell

McKinnell is a surname of likely Scottish origin. It is a patronymic name formed with the prefix Mc (or Mac), meaning "son of," combined with a personal name that has appeared in various Gaelic and English forms. The spelling McKinnell represents one of several regional variants that developed among families in Scotland and in diaspora communities abroad.

Distribution and usage of the name reflect patterns common to Scottish and Irish surnames, with occurrences in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and countries that saw significant emigration, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Over time, different spellings and anglicizations have produced related surnames, including McKinnon and MacKinnell, among others.

Notable people with the surname include Henry A. McKinnell Jr., an American businessman who served as chief executive of Pfizer, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. While numerous individuals named McKinnell have contributed to fields such as academia, sports, and the arts, they may not all be widely documented in major reference works.

See also: McKinnon, MacKinnell. The name McKinnell may also appear in place names or family genealogies, reflecting its historical ties to Scottish heritage and subsequent migration.