Surname Donnally - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Donnally: What does the surname Donnally mean?
The last name Donnally is of Irish origin and it is derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Donnghaile," which translates to "descendant of Donnghal." The personal name Donnghal is a compound of two elements, "donn" which means "brown" and "gal" which means "valour." So, the name Donnghal can be interpreted as "brown brave one" or "brown-valiant." Therefore, the name Donnally could suggest a familial line associated with the characteristics of brown-haired bravery or courage. However, it's important to remember that surnames have evolved over centuries, and their original meanings may not necessarily reflect the holders of the name today. The distribution of the Donnally surname is more prevalent in Ireland, the United States, England, Canada, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisDonnally: Where does the name Donnally come from?
The surname Donnally is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name 'Ó Dónaill' which means 'descendant of Dónall.' The name Dónall itself comes from the elements 'domno' meaning 'world' and 'val' meaning 'rule.' It hence suggests a kinship or descendency from a ruler of the world. This surname has alternate spellings such as Donnelly, O'Donnelly, and Donnolley among others.
In the modern era, the surname Donnally is relatively uncommon but can still be found in various parts of the world. It is most prevalent in the United States, according to surname distribution data. Other countries where the Donnally surname occurs include England, Canada, and Australia, however, the numbers are significantly smaller. It may also occur in traditional Irish communities around the world. Despite its Irish origin, it is not particularly common in Ireland, likely due to various waves of emigration throughout history. Furthermore, inaccuracies in the recording and anglicization of Irish names may have led to a dispersal of the surname into different forms.
Variations of the surname Donnally
The surname Donnally is of Irish origin and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name 'Ó Donnghaile' meaning 'descendant of Donnghal'. The meaning of Donnghal is 'brown valor', from 'donn' implying brown and 'gal' signifying valor.
Variations and alternate spellings of the surname Donnally can include Donnelly, Donnely, Donnelie, Donnelly, Donnolley, Donnolly, Donnely, Donley, Donolly, Donnally, Donneley, O'Donnelly, O'Donelly, O'Donnolley, O'Donnolly, O'Donley, O'Donolly, O'Donnally, and O'Donneley.
Despite the numerous variations, the most common form of the surname is Donnelly. It is common for surnames to have variants in their spelling due to errors in translation of languages, regional dialects, and phonetic spellings. There are also instances where families change the spelling for personal reasons or to distance themselves from other family branches.
Another subtle variation could come from the addition of an identifying prefix such as 'O' which in Gaelic means 'grandson of' or 'descendent of'. 'Mac', another common prefix in Irish and Scottish surnames meaning 'son of', does not appear to be used with this surname.
Famous people with the name Donnally
- Tom Donnally: An American football coach who formerly served as the head coach at Heidelberg University.
- Caleb Donnally: A professional footballer who has played in the Scottish Premiership.
- Kevin Donnally: Former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL).
- Emma Donnally: An Irish camogie player, who received an All-Star award in 2006.
- Ryan Donnally: Retired professional ice hockey player who has played in the American Hockey League (AHL). Please note that the rarity of the surname 'Donnally' means that there are few widely recognized figures with this name. The individuals listed are likely the most prominent, but they may not be 'famous' in the conventional sense.
Other surnames
Comments or additions to the name "Donnally"
19.02.2024
My name is STEVEN RAY DONNALLY THIS IS SO AWESOME TO HAVE JUST LEARNED ABOUT MY LAST NAME