The Clan Fingon

I. THE personal name Fingon, in Gaelic Fionn-ghin, Fionghuin or Finghin, means fair offspring or fair bairn.It appears among the Irish, Scots and Picts.In the tale known as Tain Bo Chuailgne we meet with it as the name of a wonderful physician who could cure a man after a large, rough ball had crushed through his skill and lodged firmly in his brain.Fingon was the name of the King of Munster in 896 A.D. It was also the name of the Bishop of Iona in 965.As mac is pronounced in the southern parts of the Highlands as if written machk, and as fh is silent, the surname MacFhionghinn is pronounced as if written Machkionghinn, and becomes in English Mackinnon.According to the oldest and most valuable genealogies of the Highland clans the Mackinnons are descended from Fingon, son of Cormac, son of Airbeartach, son of Fearchar Og, son of Fearchar Fada.This pedigree may be regarded as genuine from Fingon to Airbeartach, but not any further.II.Finlay, son of Fingon, had a son named Ewen.Finlay, in Gaelic Fionnla, is from fionn laoch, and means fair hero-a very fine name, although not very popular among those who rejoice in pretty names, whether they mean pretty things or ugly things.Surely, the first thing to be considered in giving a name to a child is what the name really means.III.Ewen, son of Finlay, is known in the genealogy of the Mackinnons as Seann Eoghann, or Old Ewen.IV.Gillebride or Gilbride, son of Ewen, may have fought at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314.V. Ewen, son of Gilbride, was known as Ewen Og, or Young Ewen.