Contents [hide]

MacDonnell History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

MacDonnell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland-Alt
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 MacDonnell family

The surname MacDonnell 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 MacDonnell family

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

MacDonnell 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 MacDonnell family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Randal Macsorley MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim (died 1636)
Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim (1609-1683), Roman Catholic landed magnate in Scotland and Ireland, son of the 1st Earl of Antrim, chief of Clan MacDonnell of Antrim

MacDonnell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacDonnell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John MacDonnell, who settled in Virginia in 1650

MacDonnell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Macdonnell, who landed in New York in 1773 1

MacDonnell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James MacDonnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
Judith MacDonnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 1
Margaret MacDonnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 1
Michael MacDonnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 1
Robert MacDonnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacDonnell migration to Australia +

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

MacDonnell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Ann MacDonnell, (MacDonald), English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
Patrick MacDonnell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 3

MacDonnell 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:

MacDonnell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Alexander MacDonnell, (b. 1856), aged 28, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd January 1884 4
Mrs. Margaret MacDonnell, (b. 1850), aged 34, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd January 1884 4
Mr. Archibald MacDonnell, (b. 1861), aged 23, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd January 1884 4

Contemporary Notables of the name MacDonnell (post 1700) +

Raymond Arthur "Ray" MacDonnell (b. 1928), American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Joe Martin on the daytime soap opera All My Children
Norman Macdonnell (1916-1979), American radio and television producer, bets known for his work on Gunsmoke (1955) and The Virginian (1962)
Mickey MacDonnell (1902-1983), American football player
John L. MacDonnell, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 15th District, 1920 5
Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell KCMG, CB (1814-1881), Irish lawyer, judge and colonial governor, 6th Governor of Hong Kong (1866-1872), 31st Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia (1864-1865)
Sir Antony Patrick MacDonnell GCSI, KCVO, (1844-1925), 1st Baron MacDonnell, Irish civil servant, Permanent Under-Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1902-1908); Member of the Council of India (1902); Privy Councillor (1902); Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (1895-1901); Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal (1893-1895)
Dr Richard MacDonnell (1787-1867), Irish Reformist 29th Provost of Trinity College, Dublin
James MacDonnell (1841-1891), Irish cricketer
George Alcock MacDonnell (1830-1899), Irish chess master
General Sir James Macdonnell GCB, KMT, KCH (1781-1857), Scottish military officer who fought at the Battle of Waterloo
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The MacDonnell 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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABBERTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Abberton.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html