O'Donell Surname Guide

Ask a genealogist about O'Donell and the first name they will mention is O'Donnell. Name scholars give the meaning as “Descendant of Domhnall ("world mighty")”.

• Similar-sounding surnames on Herald Lab: O'Donnelly.
• O'Donell drops the “n” of O'Donnell, a shortening that clerks often made.
• Local scribes, dialects and emigration all left their mark on how the name was written.
• You may also find the name written O'Donel, Donnell and O'Donnel.
• According to the 2010 US Census, the O'Donell surname had 419 bearers.

Heraldry and the O'Donell name

There is no single O'Donell family crest for every bearer. Herald Lab researches the arms historically associated with the name and explains whose they were. For the full story, order the O'Donell surname pack.