The McDonnell Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of McDonnell, its origins in Ireland, and the story behind a McDonnell family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the McDonnell coat of arms for you.
Origin of the McDonnell name
McDonnell comes from Mac Domhnaill, "son of Domhnall", a name meaning "world-mighty". In Ireland the best-known family is the MacDonnells of the Glens of Antrim, a branch of the Scottish Clan Donald who became Earls of Antrim. Separate native Irish families of the name lived in Clare, Fermanagh and elsewhere, and many galloglass soldiers of Scottish descent bore it too.
Our historical archives hold much more on the McDonnell name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the McDonnell name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Northern Ireland and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full McDonnell family history
The complete McDonnell pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
McDonnell name FAQ
What does the McDonnell name mean?
Son of Domhnall ("world-mighty"). Common variants include MacDonnell, McDonell, McDonald.
Where does the McDonnell surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Northern Ireland and Australia.
Is there a McDonnell coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single McDonnell crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized McDonnell coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).