MacDonell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

This family was originally Mac Domhnaill in Gaelic, meaning 'son of Domhnall' and as such a patronymic name. The family claim descent from Colla Uais, the 121st Monarch of Ireland, a younger brother of Colla da Chrioch.

Early Origins of the MacDonell family

The surname MacDonell was first found in County Clare where MacDonell and O'Easkin were chiefs of the territories of Corca Baisgin or Baiscind, now the barony of Moyarta. However, according to John O'Hart, in his reference Irish Pedigrees, Hart agrees with Connellan's Annals of the Four Masters in that many of the tribe "Clan Colla" traveled from Ulster where they were the Earls of Antrim to settle in Scotland where they retained the name MacDonnell but were generally called MacDonalds who became the Lord of the Isles. Edward MacLysaght disagrees with O'Hart and believes the migration went he other way, in other words the MacDonalds came to Ireland in the 13th century to become the MacDonnells in Antrim. As both authorities were Chief Heralds of Ireland, and noted authors, we put both scenarios here for the reader to decide the family's origin.

Early History of the MacDonell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacDonell research. Another 207 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1505, 1590, 1609, 1615, 1636, 1683, 1691, 1699, 1754 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacDonell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacDonell 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 MacDonell family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Somhairle Buidhe Mac Domhnaill (Somerled of the yellow hair, son of Donnell, Anglicized Sorley Boy McDonnell) (c. 1505 - 1590), Irish prince or flaith and chief; Randal Macsorley MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim (died 1636); and his son, Alexander MacDonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim (1615-1699), a Roman Catholic...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacDonell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacDonell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacDonell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Macdonell, who landed in Virginia in 1650 1
Sander Macdonell, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1651 1

MacDonell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Of Leek MacDonell, who arrived in New York in 1773 1
John Scotus Macdonell, who landed in New York in 1773 1
Margaret Macdonell, who arrived in New York in 1773 1
Mary MacDonell, who arrived in New York in 1773 1
Ranald MacDonell, who landed in New York in 1773 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacDonell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacDonell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Alexander MacDonell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
Mr. Allan MacDonell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
Mr. Donald MacDonell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
Mr. John MacDonell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
Capt. Miles MacDonell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name MacDonell (post 1700) +

Bishop William Andrew Macdonell (1853-1920), American-born, Roman Catholic Bishop of Alexandria in Ontario, Canada
Alex D. MacDonell, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1940 3
Angus MacDonell (1751-1817), Scottish-born, soldier and political figure in Upper Canada
John Edward MacDonell (b. 1966), Past President of the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, Canada
James Macdonell (1841-1879), Scottish journalist
Sir John Macdonell K.C.B. (1846-1921), British jurist
Donald Macdonell (1778-1861), Scottish-born, political figure in Upper Canada
Donald Greenfield MacDonell (1849-1916), Canadian lawyer and political figure in Ontario
Miles MacDonell (d. 1828), first governor of the Red River Colony (or Assiniboia), a 19th-century Scottish settlement western North America
Colonel Alasdair Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry (1771-1828), 15th chief of Clan MacDonell of Glengarry in 1788
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The MacDonell 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: His vinces
Motto Translation: With these you will conquer.

Citations +

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
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html