Contents [hide]

McDonell History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

McDonell 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 McDonell family

The surname McDonell 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 McDonell family

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

McDonell 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 McDonell 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 McDonell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McDonell Ranking

In the United States, the name McDonell is the 15,126^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

McDonell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McDonell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alexander McDonell, who landed in New York in 1776 2

McDonell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Patt McDonell, aged 31, who arrived in New York, NY in 1805 2
Arthur McDonell, who arrived in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1839 2

McDonell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McDonell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Donald McDonell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 3
Mr. Donald McDonell U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 3
Corpl. Donald McDonell U.E., (Donald Bog) who settled in Charlottenburgh [South Glengarry], Ontario c. 1784 3
Mr. Duncan McDonell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 3
Mr. Duncan McDonell U.E. who settled in Riviere aux Raisin [Raisin River], Cornwall, Ontario c. 1784 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McDonell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Cath McDonell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Catherine McDonell, who arrived in Canada in 1815
Calla McDonell, who landed in Canada in 1815
Angus McDonell, who arrived in Canada in 1815
Jeannet McDonell, who landed in Canada in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McDonell migration to Australia +

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

McDonell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Daniel McDonell, aged 30, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Constance" 4
James McDonell, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Constance" 4
Ellen McDonell, aged 18, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
John McDonell, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Victoria Regia"

McDonell 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:

McDonell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

F.D. McDonell, aged 44, a farmer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
Mary McDonell, aged 37, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
Mr. Ewan McDonell, (b. 1847), aged 28, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 25th November 1875 5
Mrs. McDonell, (b. 1846), aged 29, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 25th November 1875 5
Miss Ann McDonell, (b. 1852), aged 23, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 25th November 1875 5

Contemporary Notables of the name McDonell (post 1700) +

Robert Terry McDonell (b. 1944), American editor of Sports Illustrated Group
Robert Nicholas "Nick" McDonell (b. 1984), American writer, best known for his work Twelve which he wrote at the age of 17
William Fraser McDonell VC (1829-1894), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
Harold Clark McDonell (1882-1965), English cricketer
Kent McDonell (b. 1979), Canadian professional ice hockey player
Captain John McDonell (1758-1809), Canadian soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada

The McDonell 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 +

"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)
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
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Constance.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html