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![Show Contents]() Donell Surname History
The Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the Donell family. Their name comes from the personal name Donald. the surname is derived from the Gaelic Mac Dhomhnuill, which means son of Donald; it is a form of the surname MacDonald. Early Origins of the Donell familyThe surname Donell was first found in Inverness, where the origins of this name can be traced back to Somerled, Regulus of the Isles, who evicted the Norsemen from the Western Isles during the 12th century. From him is descended John Macdonald, first Lord of the Isles, and it was MacDonald's younger son, Ranald, who was the progenitor of Clanrald, which includes the families of Moidart, Morar, Knoidart and Glengarry. The MacDonells are from this last branch. It is from Ranald's son, Donald, that the MacDonell's take their name (Son of Donald). There is also a branch of the MacDonells that claim Ranald's other son, Alistair, as its progenitor (the Keppoch branch). Early History of the Donell familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donell research. Another 376 words (27 lines of text) covering the years 1211, 1411, 1575, 1609, 1647, 1672, 1683, 1745, 1749, 1790, 1794, 1812 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Donell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Donell Spelling VariationsMedieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. Donell has been written as MacDonnell, MacDonnel, McDonnell, MacDonell and others. Early Notables of the Donell familyMore information is included under the topic Early Donell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Donell family to Ireland
Some of the Donell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 118 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Donell migration to the United States | + |
Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Donell or a variant listed above:
Donell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Walter Donell, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 1
- Moragha Donell, who landed in Virginia in 1655 1
Donell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Alexander Donell, who landed in New York in 1811 1
- Jane Donell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
- David Donell, aged 23, who landed in Maine in 1812 1
- Dennis Donell, who arrived in Illinois in 1856-1864 1
| Donell migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Donell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Margaret Donell, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Caucasian" 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Donell (post 1700) | + |
- Ricky Donell Minard Jr. (b. 1982), American professional NBA basketball player
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- South Australian Register Tuesday 26 April 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Caucasian 1857. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/caucasian1857.shtml
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Donell migration to the United States 
Donell migration to Australia 
Ireland-Alt
Scotland
