MacDonnell (surname)

MacDonnell, Macdonnell, or McDonnell is a surname of Scottish and Irish 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), locomotive designer and Chief Mechanical Engineer
 * Sir Alexander McDonnell, 1st Baronet (1794–1875), Anglo-Irish civil servant, commissioner of national education in Ireland
 * Andy McDonnell (1882–1942), Australian rules 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
 * Charlie McDonnell British musician and YouTube personality (charlieissocoollike)
 * 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

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 (contemporary), American trial lawyer, radio commentator, and professor of law
 * 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 (born 1953), English professional football player

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 (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
 * Timothy A. McDonnell (born 1937), American Roman Catholic priest and bishop
 * Tony McDonnell (professor) (contemporary), British Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences
 * Tony McDonnell (born 1976), Irish football player

W

 * William McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim (1851–1918), British peer
 * William McDonnell (1876–1941), American sport shooter and 1912 Olympic contestant