Mcdonnell
A surname of Irish origin, meaning "son of Dómhnall," derived from the Irish Gaelic name Dómhnall, meaning "world ruler."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 16,624 Americans carry the last name Mcdonnell. That puts it at #2,532 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.85 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 20,618 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcdonnell surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
17K
1 in 20,618
Census rank
#2,532
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
14K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 14,309 bearers of the surname Mcdonnell in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.85 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2532nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcdonnell, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcdonnell
The surname McDonnell is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Domhnall," which means "ruler of the world." This name was Anglicized as Donald, and the prefix "Mc" or "Mac" means "son of."
The McDonnell clan was centered in the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles, particularly on the islands of Islay and Kintyre. The name first appeared in written records in the 12th century, with some early spellings including MacDomhnaill, MacConnell, and McDonill.
In the 14th century, the MacDonnells of Islay became a powerful branch of the clan, with John Mor McDonnell (1337-1395) serving as Lord of the Isles. His descendants played a significant role in Scottish history, including Angus Og McDonnell (1454-1490), who led a rebellion against King James IV in 1489.
The Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, mentions several notable McDonnells, such as Turlough Luineach McDonnell (1567-1593), a chieftain in Ulster, and Rory Og McDonnell (1560-1610), who fought against English forces in Ireland.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, many McDonnells migrated from Scotland to Ireland, particularly to counties Antrim and Down. One prominent figure was Randal McDonnell (1609-1683), the 1st Earl of Antrim, who supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
In the United States, the McDonnell name has been associated with several notable individuals, including John McDonnell (1854-1923), a Irish-American labor leader and politician, and James McDonnell (1899-1967), the founder of the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, a major aerospace company.
Other famous McDonnells include:
- Alasdair McDonnell (born 1944), an Irish politician and leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party.
- John Francis McDonnell (1837-1892), an Irish-American Roman Catholic bishop.
- John McDonnell (born 1951), a British politician and former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- Myles McDonnell (1950-2020), an Irish singer-songwriter and musician.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcdonnell
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcdonnell, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcdonnell bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mcdonnell surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Black or African American1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcdonnell surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,390 | #2,532 | -5.9% |
| Count | 13,892 | 14,309 | 3.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.15 | 4.85 | -5.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcdonnell bearers went from 13,892 to 14,309 (+3.0% change). The surname moved down 142 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,390 to #2,532.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcdonnell
FAQ
Mcdonnell surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcdonnell?
The surname Mcdonnell holds position #2,532 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 16,624 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 4.85 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcdonnell surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcdonnell, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.