Contents [hide]

Mc'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 Suggested Reading Sources

Mc'connell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Mc'connell

What does the name Mc'connell mean?

The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name Mc'connell is the Gaelic word Mac-Dhomhnaill, which translates to mean the son of the mightiest one in the world.

Early Origins of the Mc'connell family

The surname Mc'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 Mc'connell family

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

Mc'connell Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years Mc'connell has appeared as MacConnell, MacConnal, MacConnel, Connell and others.

Early Notables of the Mc'connell family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mc'connell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mc'connell World Ranking

the United States, the name Mc'connell is the 722^nd most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Mc'connell is ranked the 748^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,151 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Mc'connell is the 804^th popular surname with an estimated 4,881 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Mc'connell as 780^th with 934 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Mc'connell as 901^st with 7,608 people. 5

Migration of the Mc'connell family to Ireland

Some of the Mc'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.

Mc'connell migration to the United States +

Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, Clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The Mc'connell were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:

Mc'connell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Adam McConnell, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 6

Mc'connell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Terry McConnell, aged 31, who arrived in New York in 1812 6
Barney McConnell, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1812 6
Michael McConnell, aged 32, who landed in New York in 1812 6
Patrick McConnell, aged 37, who landed in New York in 1812 6
Robert McConnell, aged 19, who landed in New York in 1812 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mc'connell migration to Canada +

Mc'connell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

George McConnell, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1773
Mr. Benjamin McConnell U.E. who settled in St. Mary's, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia c. 1784 7
Mr. Hugh McConnell U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 7
Mr. Joseph McConnell U.E. who settled in St. Mary's, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia c. 1784 7

Mc'connell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Merinus McConnell, who arrived in Canada in 1831
John McConnell, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
Shane McConnell, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
Mary McConnell, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
John McConnell, aged 24, a shoemaker, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Quintin Leitch" in 1833
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mc'connell migration to Australia +

Mc'connell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James McConnell, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Miss Charlotte Mcconnell, (b. 1796), aged 18, Irish servant who was convicted in Tyrone, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Francis and Eliza" on 15th December 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Miss Elizabeth Mcconnell, (Connolly), (b. 1788), aged 26, Irish settler who was convicted in Armagh, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Francis and Eliza" on 15th December 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Miss Margaret McConnell, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Diana" on 4th December 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Hugh McConnell, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mc'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:

Mc'connell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Mcconnell, (b. 1814), aged 48, British Shepherd travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 12
Mrs. Martha Mcconnell, (b. 1814), aged 48, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 12
Miss Ann J. Mcconnell, (b. 1845), aged 17, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 12
Mr. John Mcconnell, (b. 1847), aged 15, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 12
Miss Maria Mcconnell, (b. 1850), aged 12, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mc'connell (post 1700) +

Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell Jr. (b. 1942), American politician, United States Senator for Kentucky, Majority Leader of the Senate since January 3, 2015
Douglas Gene McConnell (1945-2026), American television journalist who focused on environmental issues, awarded multiple Emmys, an Iris, and a Gabriel
Joe McConnell (1939-2018), American sports announcer from Rochester, Indiana
Joseph Christopher McConnell Jr. (1922-1954), American Air Force flying ace credited with shooting down 16 MiG-15s, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross; he was killed while testing a new version of the Sabre on 25 August 1954
Scott McConnell (b. 1952), American journalist, founding editor of The American Conservative
Brigadier-General Frank Charles McConnell (1898-1981), American Commanding Officer 32nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade (1945-1946) 13
John P. McConnell (1908-1986), former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff and general
John H. McConnell (1923-2008), American industrialist, philanthropist, and founder of the Columbus Blue Jackets
John Michael "Mike" McConnell (b. 1943), former vice admiral in the United States Navy
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Mc'connell family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Robert Nicol McConnell (1922-1941), Australian Stoker 2nd Class from Arncliffe, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 14
Dennis McConnell, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"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 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Diana
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2013, February 12) Frank McConnell. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/McConnell/Frank_Charles/USA.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp