MacDonnell, Macdonnell, or McDonnell is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic Mac Dhòmhnaill, meaning "son of Dòmhnall". The Gaelic personal name Dòmhnall is a Gaelicised form of the name Donald, which is composed of the elements domno, meaning "world", and val, meaning "might" or "rule". The name is considered a variation of MacDonald.
MacDonnells are found in both Scottish and Irish nobility, where they have held an important role in the history of both countries.
A Alasdair McDonnell (born 1949), Northern Irish politician and MP from Cushendall Alestair Ruadh MacDonnell (1725–1761), Scottish chief of Glengarry, secret agent and spy on Prince Charles Edward after 1750 Alexander McDonnell, 9th Earl of Antrim (1935–2021), British peer from Northern Ireland Alexander McDonnell (chess player) (1798–1835), Irish chess master Alexander McDonnell (engineer) (1829–1904), Irish locomotive designer and Chief Mechanical Engineer Sir Alexander McDonnell, 1st Baronet (1794–1875), Anglo-Irish civil servant, commissioner of national education in Ireland Andy McDonell (1882–1942), Australian rules footballer Andy McDonnell (born 1990/1991), Gaelic footballer Angus McDonnell (1881–1966), English politician and MP from Dartford Antony MacDonnell, 1st Baron MacDonnell (1844–1925), Irish-born British politician, involved in the administration of India
B Bernard C. McDonnell (1911–1959), New York assemblyman Bob McDonnell (born 1954), governor of Virginia; American politician Barry McDonnell (born 1944), Lord of Glencoe, Scotland
C Charles James McDonnell (1928-2020), American Roman Catholic bishop Charlotte McDonnell British musician and YouTube personality (charlieissocoollike, formerly Charlie McDonnell) Clare McDonnell (born 1967), English radio broadcaster and presenter Clark W. McDonnell (1870–1952), American politician from North Dakota
D Dan McDonnell (born c. 1970), American college baseball coach
E E. T. MacDonnell (fl. 1917–1918), American college football coach at Wake Forest University Eugene McDonnell (1926–2010), American programming language designer
F Lady Flora McDonnell (born 1963), artist, illustrator, and author of children's books; daughter of Alexander McDonnell
G George Alcock MacDonnell (1830–1899), Irish chess master George Macdonell (British Army officer) (1780–1870), British Army officer Grady McDonnell (born 2008), Irish-Canadian footballer
H
Howard McDonnell (1909-1992), American politician from Mississippi
Harold McDonell. (1882-1965) English cricketer
J James MacDonnell (1884–1973), Canadian soldier, lawyer, and politician from Ontario James MacKerras Macdonnell (1884–1973), Canadian lawyer and parliamentarian from Ontario James Macdonnell (1781–1857), Scottish military officer; fought at the Battle of Waterloo James Smith McDonnell (1899–1980), American businessman and aviation pioneer; founder of McDonnell Aircraft, later McDonnell-Douglas James McDonnell (born 1961), American musician better known as Slim Jim Phantom Joe McDonnell (ice hockey) (born 1961), Canadian professional ice hockey player Joe McDonnell (rugby player) (born 1973), New Zealand rugby union player Joe McDonnell (hunger striker) (1951–1981), Irish member of the Provisional IRA; died in IRA hunger strike John McDonnell (businessman) (born 1938), American aviation businessman, son of James Smith McDonnell John McDonnell (coach) (1938–2021), Irish-American college football coach John McDonnell (footballer) (born 1965), Irish football manager John McDonnell (politician) (born 1951), British politician and MP Johnny McDonnell (fl. 1908–1912), Irish footballer
K Kyle MacDonnell (c. 1922–2004), American model, singer, and actress
L Lara McDonnell (born 2003), Irish actress Leverne McDonnell (1963–2013), Australian actress Louisa McDonnell, Countess of Antrim (1855–1949), British peer Luke McDonnell (born 1959), American comic book artist and toy designer
M Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill (949–1022), High King of Ireland. Mary McDonnell (born 1952), American film, stage, and television actress Megan McDonnell, American screenwriter Michael McDonnell (1882–1956), Chief Justice of Palestine Mike McDonnell (born 1966), American politician from Nebraska Moylan McDonnell (1889–1969), Canadian professional hockey player
N Noelie McDonnell, Irish singer/songwriter Norman Macdonnell (1916–1979), American radio and television producer
P Pat McDonnell (born 1950), Irish hurler Patrick McDonnell (contemporary), Irish actor and comedian Patrick McDonnell (born 1956), American comic book author Percy McDonnell (1858–1896), Australian cricketer Peter McDonnell (disambiguation)
R Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim (d. 1636), Irish nobleman, 4th son of Sorley Boy MacDonnell Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim (1609–1683), Roman Catholic landed magnate in Scotland and Ireland Ray MacDonnell (1928–2021), American actor Richard Graves MacDonnell (1814–1881), Anglo-Irish lawyer, judge, and colonial governor Roger MacDonnell, New Zealand advertising entrepreneur
S Samuel McDonnell (1834–1910), Canadian politician from Nova Scotia Sanford N. McDonnell (1922–2012), American aviation businessman, nephew of James Smith McDonnell Shannon McDonnell (rugby league) (born 1987), Australian rugby league player Sophie McDonnell (born 1976), British television presenter Sorley Boy MacDonnell (Somhairle Buidh Mac Domhnaill) (1505–1590), Irish clan chieftain of the Clan MacDonnell Stephen McDonnell (hurler) (born 1989), Irish hurler for Glen Rovers and Cork Steven McDonnell (Gaelic footballer) (born 1979), Gaelic football player for Armagh
T Terrence McDonnell (contemporary), American screenwriter Thomas McDonnell, Snr. (1788–1864), Irish-New Zealand businessman Thomas McDonnell (1831–1899), New Zealand military officer and writer Thomas Meton Macdonnell (1923–2022), American politician from Missouri Timothy A. McDonnell (1937–2026), American Roman Catholic bishop Tony McDonnell (born 1976), Irish football player Tony McDonnell (space scientist) (contemporary), British Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences
V Valerie McDonnell (born 2004), American politician from New Hampshire
W William McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim (1851–1918), British peer William McDonnell (1876–1941), American sport shooter and 1912 Olympic contestant
See also Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry, branch of the Scottish Clan Donald, now predominantly in Canada due to mass negotiation of immigration during the Highland Clearances Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, branch of Clan Donald, who are sometimes referred to as MacDonnells. Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, branch of the Scottish Clan Donald, where they are sometimes referred to as MacDonnells. Clan MacDonnell of Antrim, Irish branch of the Scottish Clan Donald
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