Contents [hide]

Donnell History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Donnell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland-Alt
Ireland
Scotland

The Donnell family history stretches back to the clans of the Dalriadan kingdom on the sea-swept Hebrides islands and mountainous western coast of Scotland. The name Donnell is derived 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 Donnell family

The surname Donnell 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 Donnell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donnell 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 Donnell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donnell Spelling Variations

Spelling in the medieval era was a highly imprecise process. Translation, particularly from Gaelic to English, was little better. For these reasons, early Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. In various documents Donnell has been spelled MacDonnell, MacDonnel, McDonnell, MacDonell and others.

Early Notables of the Donnell family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

MacDonnell of Glengarry

Donnell Ranking

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

Migration of the Donnell family to Ireland

Some of the Donnell 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.

Donnell migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Donnell were among those contributors:

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Historic Events for the Donnell family +

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

The Donnell Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per mare, per terras
Motto Translation: By water and land.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
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
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
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
Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html