Language(s) | Gaelic |
---|---|
Origin | |
Meaning | "Son of Dòmhnall" |
Region of origin | Scotland, Ireland |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | Donnell, MacDonell, McConnell, MacConnell, Donald, MacDonald, McDonald, Donaldson, |
[1][2] |
MacDonnell, Macdonnell, or McDonnell is a surname ofmostly Irish but also Scottish 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.