Recorded as Mackenson, Mackensen, Mackieson, Mackison, Mackeson, Makesone, Makinson, and possibly others, this is a famous Scottish surname. It originates mainly from the counties of Stirlingshire and Perthshire, although a long standing branch was to be found at Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. These people played a major part in the adminstration of that county as shown below. The surname is believed to derive from an ancient Gaelic word "kissa" meaning a spear, and like many Gaelic suirnames, was presumably the name or nickname of the original chief of the clan, probably in the 12th century. These early recordings include examples such as Thomas filius Mackyson, who held lands under charter in Elgin in 1398, and Thomas Maksoun, given as being a "tanator" of Newburgh in 1402. Later in that century William Makisson was admitted as burgess of Aberdeen in 1477, as was Simon Mackeson in 1488 and William Makhesone in 1521. As can be seen there is an increasing variety in the spellings as time went bye which occurs in many surnames of this period.

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