Mackenzie is a name of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Coinnich, which means "son of Coinneach." The name Coinneach is a diminutive form of the personal name Donnachaidh, which means "dark or brown-haired warrior." Therefore, Mackenzie can be interpreted as "son of the dark or brown-haired warrior."
The clan surname Mackenzie was first recorded in the early 13th century and was originally associated with the Mackay family. The MacKenzies were a powerful clan in Ross-shire, Scotland, and played significant roles in Scottish history.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Mackenzie is Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820), a Scottish explorer who was the first European to journey across North America north of Mexico, reaching the Pacific Ocean on July 22, 1793. He named this land "New Caledonia," and his expedition helped open up the interior of Canada for further exploration.
Today, Mackenzie is used as both a surname and given name, with variations such as MacKenzie and Mackinnen. As a given name, it has gained popularity in recent years, particularly among English-speaking countries.
"Mackenzie was quite popular in 2005 with six newborns, but its popularity dipped slightly by 2012 with five births. Altogether, 11 babies were named Mackenzie over these two years."