McDonnel Last Name: Meaning and Heraldic Roots

A coat of arms belongs to a particular family line rather than to everyone named McDonnel, so the heraldry linked to McDonell is a starting point, not an automatic right.

Meaning of the name

McDonnel is a familiar spelling of the Irish name McDonell. Its meaning, shared with McDonell, is “Son of Domhnall ("world-mighty")”.

McDonnel is listed among the recognised spellings of McDonell. Local scribes, dialects and emigration all left their mark on how the name was written. About 233 people in the United States were recorded as McDonnel in 2010, placing it 81,181 on the national list. Similar-sounding surnames on Herald Lab: McDonnell and MacDonnell.

Research your McDonnel family history with a full surname report and painted coat of arms.