Surname MacDaniel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacDaniel: What does the surname MacDaniel mean?
The surname MacDaniel is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Dhomhnuill", which translates to "son of Domhnall" or "son of Donald." The name "Domhnall" itself comes from the Old Irish elements "domno" meaning "world" and "val" meaning "rule." Therefore, the overall meaning can be interpreted as "son of the world ruler" or "son of the ruler of the world." Over time, pronunciation and spelling variations occurred, leading to different forms of the name like MacDonnell, MacDonald, McDonnell, and MacDaniel. Many of these names are common in areas of Ireland and Scotland where Gaelic was traditionally spoken. Like many surnames, MacDaniel can indicate a familial relationship or descendancy from individuals bearing the forename Domhnall or Donald.
Order DNA origin analysisMacDaniel: Where does the name MacDaniel come from?
The surname MacDaniel is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Dónaill," which means "son of Dónall." The name Dónall itself is derived from the elements "domno" (world) and "val" (rule), essentially meaning 'ruler of the world.' This patronymic surname has its roots in Ireland, where it was first borne by descendants of the powerful Cenél Conaill dynasty in the Donegal region.
Today, the name MacDaniel, like many Irish surnames, is frequently encountered in countries around the globe due to historical Irish emigration. It is particularly prevalent in English-speaking nations where the Irish diaspora is significant such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In Ireland itself, the surname MacDaniel, and its numerous variations including McDonnell, McDonald, and McDanel, remain common.
Variations of the surname MacDaniel
The surname MacDaniel originates from the Gaelic name Mac Dhomhnuill, which translates to "son of Donald." Typically, Irish, Scottish, and English heritages carry this surname, and there are multiple variations due to geographical locations and phonetic translations.
Variants and alternative spellings of MacDaniel could include McDaniel, Daniel, Daniels, McDonnell, McDonald, Donaldson, MacDonell, MacDonnell, Macdonell, and Danielson. It is not uncommon to find variations that drop the prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc', leaving just the 'Daniel' part.
Surnames, like MacDaniel, that end with 'son' or 's' indicate a patronymic root, in this case relating to a descendant of Donald. Some surnames are also anglicized versions of the original Gaelic, with phonetic modifications to suit local dialects, for example, “Daniels” in England. Other variations might result from regional accents causing misspelling, thus resulting in different forms of the same original name.
Additionally, surnames may undergo changes over time due to various factors such as migration, local language influence, or even administrative alteration. So, it is likely that many other less obvious versions of this surname exist.
Famous people with the name MacDaniel
- Hattie McDaniel: She was an American actress best known for her role as Mammy in "Gone with the Wind" for which she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
- Sam McDaniel: An American actor who appeared in over 210 films from the 1920s to the 1950s. He was the older brother of actress Hattie McDaniel and actor Etta McDaniel.
- Etta McDaniel: An American actress who appeared in over 60 films between 1932 and 1949. She was the sister of Hattie and Sam McDaniel.
- Troy McDaniel: A Paralympic athlete from the United States who competed mainly in category T12 (visual impairment) sprint events.
- Melanie McDaniel: An American television and film producer with a multitude of credits, including the popular crime series "The Closer".
- Mitch McDaniel: He was a wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Chris McDaniel: An American talk radio host, attorney, conservative commentator, and Mississippi State Senator.
- Scotty McDaniel: An American comic book artist, he worked on Marvel's Daredevil series.
- Chad McDaniel: An American baseball player, he was primarily a catcher in the Minor League Baseball.