Show ContentsDonnell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

This family was originally Mac Domhnaill in Gaelic, meaning 'son of Domhnall.'

Early Origins of the Donnell family

The surname Donnell was first found in throughout Ireland since early times.

Early History of the Donnell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donnell research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1505, 1620, 1691, 1754 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Donnell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donnell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: McDonnell, Hoddonell, O'Donnal, Otonell, MacDonnell, Donneill, McDonel, McDonell, McDonneil, Hodonell, McDonnel, McDoneill, Odonell, Odonel, Donnelson, Donnell, Donnel, O'Donnall, Donell and many more.

Early Notables of the Donnell family

Another 21 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Donnell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donnell Ranking

In the United States, the name Donnell is the 3,974th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


United States Donnell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Donnell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Donnell, who landed in New England in 1652 2
  • Margarett Donnell, who landed in Virginia in 1658 2
  • Samuel Donnell, who landed in New England in 1692 2
  • Wager Donnell, who arrived in Virginia in 1697 2
Donnell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Donnell, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 2
  • Terrence Donnell, who landed in New York in 1789 2
  • Thomas Donnell, who arrived in Mississippi in 1798 2
Donnell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charles Donnell, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1801 2
  • Monassas Donnell, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 2
  • Elizabeth Donnell, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 2
  • Dennis Donnell, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
  • Andrew Donnell, aged 22, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Donnell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Donnell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Donnell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1831
  • Neal Donnell, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Bartley" in 1833
  • Anne Donnell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1833
  • Lydia Donnell, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Daniel O'Connell" in 1834
  • Elline Donnell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1836
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Donnell migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Donnell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Donnell, a currier, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Edward Donnell, a blacksmith, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Mr. William Donnell, (b. 1819), aged 22, Irish farm labourer from Donegal, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 3
  • Mrs. Rosanna Donnell, (b. 1819), aged 22, Irish farm servant from Donegal, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 4
  • Miss Mar Donnell, (b. 1823), aged 18, Irish farm servant from County Derry, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Donnell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Donnell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Philip Donnell, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 6
  • Mary Donnell, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 6
  • Margaret Donnell, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 6
  • Joseph Donnell, aged 22, a ploughman, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siberia" in 1870
  • Mr. Joseph Donnell, (b. 1847), aged 22, Irish ploughman, from County Tyrone travelling from London aboard the ship "Siberia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st February 1870 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Donnell (post 1700) +

  • Jean Marie "Jeff" Donnell (1921-1988), American actress, comedy and dramatist, she adopted the nickname "Jeff" after the character in her favorite comic strip, Mutt and Jeff, more recently known for her role as Aunt May Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man (1977)
  • Larry Donnell (b. 1988), American NFL football tight end for the New York Giants (2012-)
  • Richard Spaight Donnell (1820-1867), American politician, Congressional Representative from North Carolina, grandson of founding father Richard Dobbs Spaight
  • Colin Donnell (b. 1982), American actor best known for his roles as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes and the leading role of Tommy Merlyn in the television series Arrow
  • Ensign Earl Roe Donnell (1918-1942), American seaman killed in action while serving in Scouting Squadron 6 aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6), eponym of the USS Donnell (DE-56), a Buckley-class destroyer escort
  • John Randolph Donnell (1912-2004), American oilman, banker and philanthropist, 1958 recipient of the Silver Buffalo Award and awarded the Bronze Wolf by the World Organization of the Scout Movement
  • James C. Donnell (1854-1927), Irish-born, American industrialist, President of The Ohio Oil Company (1911-1927)
  • Harry Ellingwood Donnell (1867-1959), American Beaux-Arts architect
  • Forrest C. Donnell (1884-1980), United States Senator, 40th Governor of Missouri (1945-1951)
  • Alison Donnell, British academic, Professor of Modern Literatures in English and Head of School of Literature and Languages at the University of Reading
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Francis Donnell, British Corporal, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking, was wounded in action 8


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=193
  4. Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=194
  5. Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=236
  6. Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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