McDonnell is a great name of the gallowglass and of the Glens of Antrim, linking Ireland and the Scottish isles.
Where does the McDonnell name come from?
McDonnell is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Domhnaill, “son of Domhnall” — a personal name meaning “world-ruler” or “mighty.” It is the Irish form of the same name as the Scottish MacDonald, reflecting the close ties between Gaelic Ireland and the Hebrides.
The McDonnells of Antrim
The McDonnells came to Ireland as gallowglass warriors and rose to become Lords of the Glens of Antrim and later Earls of Antrim, with their stronghold at Dunluce Castle. A separate McDonnell family were chiefs in Clare and Connacht. As a documented Gaelic name, McDonnell is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
For anyone wanting to mark the McDonnell name at home, a McDonnell woven blanket makes a fitting centerpiece, while a McDonnell heritage mug or a McDonnell garden flag works for everyday use.
Every McDonnell-tagged design we currently carry — from mugs to garden flags to ornaments — is gathered together in the McDonnell Irish Family Gifts & Heritage, updated automatically as new McDonnell pieces are added.
Did you know?
- McDonnell comes from the Gaelic Mac Domhnaill.
- Domhnall means “world-ruler” or “mighty.”
- It is the Irish form of the Scottish MacDonald.
- The McDonnells were Lords of the Glens of Antrim and Earls of Antrim.
- Their stronghold was Dunluce Castle.
Related Irish family names
You may also like McDermott, McCabe, and Barry.
Frequently asked questions
Is McDonnell an Irish surname?
Yes — McDonnell is a Gaelic Irish surname, from Mac Domhnaill, the Lords of the Glens of Antrim and Earls of Antrim.
What does McDonnell mean?
It means “son of Domhnall,” a name meaning “world-ruler” or “mighty.”
Is there a McDonnell family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions.