Surname McDonnel - Meaning and Origin

McDonnel: What does the surname McDonnel mean?

The last name McDonnel is derived from the Gaelic name MacDonnell. The prefix "mac" means "son of" in Gaelic, while the root of the name is the Gaelic word "donn". "Donn" is a name derived from the Gaelic word "donnchadh" meaning "chieftain", and is said to refer to a male leader or ruler either in ancient Irish or Scottish tribal circles.

McDonnel is an old and widely dispersed surname. It is the forty-ninth most common surname in Scotland and is also found in the United States, particularly in the states of New York and Pennsylvania.

The Gaelic MacDonnell families, descended from the rulers of the ancient kingdom of Síol Anmchadha along the 16th century west coast of Ireland. The royal family of the kingdom was known as the Ó Domhnaill's, who were renowned to be very generous patrons of various arts, such as poetry, music, and storytelling.

Today, the McDonnel surname is far less common, but still exists and is found all around the world, including countries such as India, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The McDonnel surname and its variations, including MacDonnell and MacDonell, evoke a bevy of rich cultural and ancestral pasts, and are representative of ancient and noble lineages and tribulations.

McDonnel: Where does the name McDonnel come from?

The surname McDonnel is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in the provinces of Munster, Leinster and Connacht. Specifically Northern Ireland is heavily populated with those bearing the McDonnel surname, with the name playing an important part in local culture, with several notable families associated with the name. Additionally, there are many McDonnel clans spread widely throughout much of the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, though the highest concentrations of the name can be found in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Prior to the 19th century, most McDonnel families were of Gaelic origin, as the McDonnel bloodline can be traced back to the ancient kingdom of Dál Riata in Northern Ireland, with some family members even having connections with the High King of the Glens of Antrim. This, coupled with their Norman influence, resulted in clans being scattered throughout the region's islands and mainland.

Throughout the years many McDonnel people have gone and settled in other countries and continents in search of a better life, such as North America and Australia. In the United States the family name is well-known and often found in states such as New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In Australia the name is not as widespread, yet there are some individual McDonnel families living in big cities such as Melbourne and Sydney.

Thus, today the last name McDonnel is most commonly found in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with scattered family existences in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia.

Variations of the surname McDonnel

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname McDonnel are McDonnell, MacDonnell, Donald, Donnell, and O'Donnell.

McDonnell originated from Scotland, where the Gaelic version of the name is MacDhomhnaill. The Mac- prefix typically means 'son of' and is used as the prefix for many Highland surnames. The original bearer of the surname was Donald, which also appears in some instances as Donnel.

McDonnell was also an important clan in Ireland, and many members of the clan moved to the Irish mainland. The Gaelic form of the name in Ireland is O'Domhnall, which means "descendants of Domhnall". The name Domhnall is related to the name Donald, and is the Irish version of the original name.

McDonnell is seen in many spellings around the world, particularly in the United States and Canada, and its variations include MacDonnell, O'Donnell, Donald, and Donnel. McDonnell is also a popular surname in England, as well as many Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and India.

The variations and spellings of the McDonnell name can also denote that the family originated from Scotland, Ireland, England, or even other countries such as Wales or France. However, the original source of the surname remains Scotland and Ireland, and its unique origin means that it is easily recognizable as part of a larger clan and family heritage.

Famous people with the name McDonnel

• John McDonnell: British Politician and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Marie McDonnell: Actress
• Glenda McDonnell: Mayor of Los Angeles
• Henry McDonnel: American Politician and Ohio Supreme Court Justice
• Jana McDonnel: Bold and the Beautiful Actress
• James McDonnell: Aviation Tycoon
• Matthew McDonnell: Actor
• Maeve McDonnel: Singer/Songwriter
• Liam McDonnell: Athlete
• Patrick McDonnell: Cartoonist
• Brendan McDonnel: Actor
• Paul McDonnell: Actor
• Conner McDonnel: Actor
• Patrick McDonnell: comedian
• Douglas McDonnel: World-renowned Sculptor
• Richard McDonnell: NFL player
• Marmarta McDonnell: Pop Singer
• Christopher McDonnell: Irish Actor
• Tom McDonnel: Voice Actor
• Richard McDonnel: American Historian
• Paul McDonnel: Contemporary Sculptor
• Clarice McDonnel: Classical Singer
• Jack McDonnel: Soccer Player
• John "Jack" McDonnel: Naval Aviator and Astronaut
• Alice McDonnel: Film Director and Screenwriter

Other surnames

McDonnell