Show ContentsMacConnell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The sea-swept Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland, made up the ancient Dalriadan kingdom, the ancestral home of the MacConnell family. Their name comes from the Gaelic word Mac-Dhomhnaill, which translates to mean the son of the mightiest one in the world.

Early Origins of the MacConnell family

The surname MacConnell was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the MacConnell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacConnell research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1546 is included under the topic Early MacConnell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacConnell Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of MacConnell have been recorded over the years, including These are the result of the medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English. MacConnell, MacConnal, MacConnel, Connell and others.

Early Notables of the MacConnell family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

  • MacConnell, son of Connal of Ayrshire...

Ireland Migration of the MacConnell family to Ireland

Some of the MacConnell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States MacConnell migration to the United States +

Many who arrived from Scotland settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would go on to become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many settlers who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Their descendants later began to recover the lost Scottish heritage through events such as the highland games that dot North America in the summer months. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the MacConnell family emigrate to North America:

MacConnell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Cana MacConnell, who landed in New England in 1651-1652 1
MacConnell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James MacConnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
  • John MacConnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
  • P MacConnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
  • Sarah MacConnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
  • Alexander, Arthur, Andrew, Francis, George, Henry, John, James, Neil, Patrick, Robert, Thomas, and William MacConnell all, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1800 and 1870

Australia MacConnell migration to Australia +

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

MacConnell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas MacConnell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 2
  • Mary MacConnell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 2
  • Mr. Henry MacConnell, English convict who was convicted in Salford, Greater Manchester, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 28th July 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3

Contemporary Notables of the name MacConnell (post 1700) +

  • Dr. James D. MacConnell (1908-1990), nicknamed "Dr. Mac," an American educator, Professor Emeritus of Education Stanford University, director of Stanford’s School Planning Laboratory which he founded in 1951, eponym of the James D. MacConnell Award
  • Joe "MAC" MacConnell, American general manager and co-owner of the Springfield Express, an AAU-sanctioned junior ice hockey team based in Springfield, Missouri
  • Mickey MacConnell (b. 1947), Irish musician and song writer from Bellanaleck, near Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
  • Michael MacConnell, Australian author, known for his novels Maelstrom (2007) and Splinter (2008)


  1. 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)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAJASTHAN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Rajasthan.htm
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 23rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone


Houseofnames.com on Facebook