Contents [hide]

Connell History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Sources

Connell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Connell

What does the name Connell mean?

In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the Connell family were born. 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 Connell family

The surname Connell 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 Connell family

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

Connell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. Connell has been spelled MacConnell, MacConnal, MacConnel, Connell and others.

Early Notables of the Connell family

MacConnell, son of Connal of Ayrshire...

Connell World Ranking

the United States, the name Connell is the 1,827^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name Connell is ranked the 469^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,035 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name Connell is the 837^th popular surname with an estimated 869 people with that name. 3 The United Kingdom ranks Connell as 922^nd with 7,496 people. 4

Migration of the Connell family to Ireland

Some of the Connell 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.

Connell migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Connells to arrive on North American shores:

Connell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Connell, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 5
Hugh Connell, who landed in Maryland in 1672 5
Morgan Connell, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 5
Rebecah Connell, who landed in Maryland in 1679 5

Connell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Tim Connell, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 5
Timothy Connell, who landed in Virginia in 1701 5
Cath Connell, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 5
Catherine Connell, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 5
Mary Connell, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1764 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Connell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Connor Connell, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1808 5
Darby Connell, who arrived in America in 1811 5
P Connell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 5
Sarah Connell, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 5
Ann Connell, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Connell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Peter Connell, who landed in Mississippi in 1903 5
Edward Connell, who arrived in Mississippi in 1903 5

Connell migration to Canada +

Connell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Miss Catherine Connell, "Connett" U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783; listed as being a child but older than 10 years 6
Mr. Daniel Connell, "Connett" U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783; listed as being a child but older than 10 years 6
Mrs. Sarah Connell, "Connett" U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 6
Miss Elizabeth Connell, "Connett" U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783; listed as being a child but older than 10 years 6

Connell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Connell, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1830
Hugh Connell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1832
Patrick Connell, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
Patrick Connell, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Providence" from Cork, Ireland
Mary Connell, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Providence" from Cork, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Connell migration to Australia +

Connell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mrs. Catherine Connell, (nee Sullivan), (b. 1760), aged 40, British Convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 14 years for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1811 7
Mr. John Connell, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Miss Elizabeth Connell, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Micahel Connell, English convict who was convicted in Isle of Wight, England for life, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
John Connell, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Connell 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:

Connell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Connell, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
William Connell, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Charles Connell, aged 39, a labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 12
Ellen Connell, aged 36, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 12
Morgan Connell, aged 17, a labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Connell (post 1700) +

Charles R Connell (1864-1922), American politican, US Congressman from Pennsylvania
Richard E Connell (1857-1912), American politician, US Congressman from New York
John P. Connell (1923-2015), American stage, television, film and voice actor
Jane Connell (1925-2013), born Jane Sperry Bennett, an American Tony award nominated character actress
Brigadier-General Samuel Martin Connell (1897-1981), American Commanding General 4th Bomber Command (1942-1944) 13
Brigadier-General Carl William Connell (1890-1946), American Commanding General 5th Air Force Service Command (1942-1944) 14
Richard Connell (1893-1949), American author and journalist
Evan Shelby Connell Jr. (b. 1924), American novelist, poet, and short story-writer
Anthony "Tony" Connell (1944-2024), Scottish football player and coach who made over 260 appearances
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Connell family +

Flight 191

D Connell (d. 1979), American passenger from South Bend, Indiana, USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 15
Mr. Thomas Connell (1853-1914), Newfoundlander from St. John's who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 23) Samuel Connell. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Connell/Samuel_Martin/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 23) Carl Connell. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Connell/Carl_William/USA.html
Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area