McGonell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The many centuries old Dalriadan-Scottish name McGonell comes from the Gaelic word Mac-Dhomhnaill, which translates to mean the son of the mightiest one in the world.

Early Origins of the McGonell family

The surname McGonell 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 McGonell family

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

McGonell Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. McGonell has been spelled MacConnell, MacConnal, MacConnel, Connell and others.

Early Notables of the McGonell family

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

Migration of the McGonell family to Ireland

Some of the McGonell 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.

Migration of the McGonell family

Many who arrived from Scotland settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would go on to become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many settlers who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Their descendants later began to recover the lost Scottish heritage through events such as the highland games that dot North America in the summer months. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the McGonell family emigrate to North America: Alexander, Arthur, Andrew, Francis, George, Henry, John, James, Neil, Patrick, Robert, Thomas and William MacConnell all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1800 and 1870.