MacDonnell (surname) explained

MacDonnell
Meaning:	"Son of Dòmhnall"
Region:	Scotland, Ireland
Language:	Gaelic
Variant:	Donnell, MacDonell, McConnell, MacConnell, Donald, MacDonald, McDonald, Donaldson,
Footnotes:	^[1] ^[2]

MacDonnell, Macdonnell, or McDonnell is a surname of Scottish and Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic Mac Dhòmhnaill, meaning "son of Dòmhnall".^[3] The Gaelic personal name Dòmhnall is a Gaelicised form of the name Donald, which is composed of the elements domno, meaning "world", and val, meaning "might" or "rule". The name is considered a variation of MacDonald.

MacDonnells are found in both Scottish and Irish nobility, where they have held an important role in the history of both countries.

A

• Alasdair McDonnell (born 1949), Northern Irish politician and MP from Cushendall
• Alestair Ruadh MacDonnell (1725–1761), Scottish chief of Glengarry, secret agent and spy on Prince Charles Edward after 1750
• Alexander McDonnell, 9th Earl of Antrim (1935–2021), British peer from Northern Ireland
• Alexander McDonnell (chess player) (1798–1835), Irish chess master
• Alexander McDonnell (engineer) (1829–1904), locomotive designer and Chief Mechanical Engineer
• Sir Alexander McDonnell, 1st Baronet (1794–1875), Anglo-Irish civil servant, commissioner of national education in Ireland
• Andy McDonnell (1882–1942), Australian rules footballer
• Angus McDonnell (1881–1966), English politician and MP from Dartford
• Antony MacDonnell, 1st Baron MacDonnell (1844–1925), Irish-born British politician, involved in the administration of India

B

• Bernard C. McDonnell (1911–1959), New York assemblyman
• Bob McDonnell (born 1954), governor of Virginia; American politician
• Barry McDonnell (born 1944), Lord of Glencoe, Scotland

C

• Charles James McDonnell (1928-2020), American Roman Catholic bishop
• Charlie McDonnell British musician and YouTube personality (charlieissocoollike)
• Clare McDonnell (born 1967), English radio broadcaster and presenter
• Clark W. McDonnell (1870–1952), American politician from North Dakota

D

• Dan McDonnell (born c. 1970), American college baseball coach

E

• E. T. MacDonnell (fl. 1917–1918), American college football coach at Wake Forest University
• Eugene McDonnell (1926–2010), American programming language designer

F

• Lady Flora McDonnell (born 1963), artist, illustrator, and author of children's books; daughter of Alexander McDonnell

G

• George Alcock MacDonnell (1830–1899), Irish chess master
• George Macdonell (British Army officer) (1780–1870), British Army officer
• Grady McDonnell (born 2008), Irish-Canadian footballer

J

• James MacDonnell (1884–1973), Canadian soldier, lawyer, and politician from Ontario
• James MacKerras Macdonnell (1884–1973), Canadian lawyer and parliamentarian from Ontario
• James Macdonnell (1781–1857), Scottish military officer; fought at the Battle of Waterloo
• James Smith McDonnell (1899–1980), American businessman and aviation pioneer; founder of McDonnell Aircraft, later McDonnell-Douglas
• James McDonnell (born 1961), American musician better known as Slim Jim Phantom
• Joe McDonnell (ice hockey) (born 1961), Canadian professional ice hockey player
• Joe McDonnell (rugby player) (born 1973), New Zealand rugby union player
• Joe McDonnell (hunger striker) (1951–1981), Irish member of the Provisional IRA; died in IRA hunger strike
• John McDonnell (businessman) (born 1938), American aviation businessman, son of James Smith McDonnell
• John McDonnell (coach) (1938–2021), Irish-American college football coach
• John McDonnell (footballer) (born 1965), Irish football manager
• John McDonnell (politician) (born 1951), British politician and MP
• Johnny McDonnell (fl. 1908–1912), Irish footballer

K

• Kyle MacDonnell (c. 1922–2004), American model, singer, and actress

L

• Lara McDonnell (born 2003), Irish actress
• Leverne McDonnell (1963–2013), Australian actress
• Louisa McDonnell, Countess of Antrim (1855–1949), British peer
• Luke McDonnell (born 1959), American comic book artist and toy designer

M

• Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill (949–1022), High King of Ireland.
• Mary McDonnell (born 1952), American film, stage, and television actress
• Megan McDonnell, American screenwriter
• Michael McDonnell (contemporary), American trial lawyer, radio commentator, and professor of law
• Moylan McDonnell (1889–1969), Canadian professional hockey player

N

• Noelie McDonnell, Irish singer/songwriter
• Norman Macdonnell (1916–1979), American radio and television producer

P

• Pat McDonnell (born 1950), Irish hurler
• Patrick McDonnell (contemporary), Irish actor and comedian
• Patrick McDonnell (born 1956), American comic book author
• Percy McDonnell (1858–1896), Australian cricketer
• Peter McDonnell (born 1953), English professional football player

R

• Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim (d. 1636), Irish nobleman, 4th son of Sorley Boy MacDonnell
• Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim (1609–1683), Roman Catholic landed magnate in Scotland and Ireland
• Ray MacDonnell (1928–2021), American actor
• Richard Graves MacDonnell (1814–1881), Anglo-Irish lawyer, judge, and colonial governor
• Roger MacDonnell, New Zealand advertising entrepreneur

S

• Samuel McDonnell (1834–1910), Canadian politician from Nova Scotia
• Sanford N. McDonnell (1922–2012), American aviation businessman, nephew of James Smith McDonnell
• Shannon McDonnell (born 1987), Australian rugby league player
• Sophie McDonnell (born 1976), British television presenter
• Sorley Boy MacDonnell (Somhairle Buidh Mac Domhnaill) (1505–1590), Irish clan chieftain of the Clan MacDonnell
• Stephen McDonnell (hurler) (born 1989), Irish hurler for Glen Rovers and Cork
• Steven McDonnell (Gaelic footballer) (born 1979), Gaelic football player for Armagh

T

• Terrence McDonnell (contemporary), American screenwriter
• Thomas McDonnell, Snr. (1788–1864), Irish-New Zealand businessman
• Thomas McDonnell (1831–1899), New Zealand military officer and writer
• Timothy A. McDonnell (born 1937), American Roman Catholic priest and bishop
• Tony McDonnell (professor) (contemporary), British Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences
• Tony McDonnell (born 1976), Irish football player

W

• William McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim (1851–1918), British peer
• William McDonnell (1876–1941), American sport shooter and 1912 Olympic contestant

See also

• Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry, branch of the Scottish Clan Donald, now predominantly in Canada due to mass negotiation of immigration during the Highland Clearances
• Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, branch of Clan Donald, who are sometimes referred to as MacDonnells.
• Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, branch of the Scottish Clan Donald, where they are sometimes referred to as MacDonnells.
• Clan MacDonnell of Antrim, Irish branch of the Scottish Clan Donald

Notes and References

1. Web site: MacDonnell Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History.
2. Web site: McDonnell Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History.
3. Book: Lee, Henry. 1920. History of the Clan Donald: The Families of MacDonald, McDonald and McDonnell. New York. R. L. Polk and Company.