UK surname
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Dónaill meaning "descendant of Dónall".
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Donell surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18, ranked #36,832, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donell is 180 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 80.0%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
18
2016, ranked #36,832
Peak year
1861
180 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Donell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Donell surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 54 | #23,577 |
| 1861 | historical | 180 | #13,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 14 | #37,124 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 18 | #36,832 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), St Marylebone, Liverpool and St Luke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | Boston (incl. Boston allotments) | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Luke | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Donell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Donell, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Donell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Donell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Donell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Donell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Donell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DONELL originated in Scotland and is a variant of the Scottish name MacDonald or McDonald. The name is derived from the Gaelic words 'mac' meaning 'son of' and 'Domhnall' or 'Dòmhnall' meaning 'world ruler' or 'world mighty'. The name was first found on the Isles of Islay and Kyntyre.
The DONELL surname can be traced back to the 13th century and is believed to have descended from Somerled, the legendary King of the Isles. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1264, which mention 'Gillecolum MacDonell'.
During the Middle Ages, the DONELL clan played a significant role in the power struggles between the Lords of the Isles and the Scottish Crown. In the 14th century, John of Islay, Lord of the Isles and Chief of the DONELL clan, was one of the most powerful and influential figures in Scotland.
In the 16th century, the DONELL clan was involved in the Highland Clan Battles, particularly the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594. One of the most notable figures from this time was Sir James MacDonald (DONELL) of Dunluce, who was knighted by King James VI of Scotland in 1597.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname DONELL. One of the most famous was Flora MacDonald (1722-1790), who assisted in the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Another notable figure was Ranald MacDonald (DONELL) of Keppoch (1609-1682), a Scottish clan chief and military leader during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
In the 18th century, the DONELL clan played a significant role in the Jacobite risings, supporting the exiled House of Stuart. Alastair MacDonald (DONELL) of Glengarry (1725-1761) was a Jacobite chief who fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden.
Other notable individuals with the surname include Archibald MacDonald (DONELL) of Keppoch (1853-1920), a Scottish writer and historian, and John MacDonald (DONELL) of Glenaladale (1773-1853), a Scottish-Canadian fur trader and explorer.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 27 Donells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 27 | 3.08x |
| Warwickshire | 15 | 6.78x |
| Surrey | 12 | 2.81x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.96x |
| Roxburghshire | 6 | 37.74x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 2.85x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 2.54x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.03x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 2.65x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.67x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.70x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.88x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.58x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.65x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.35x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 8 Donells recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.66x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkdale | 8 | 45.66x |
| St Marylebone London | 8 | 17.07x |
| Bethnal Green London | 7 | 18.35x |
| Camberwell | 7 | 12.48x |
| Chelsea London | 7 | 26.47x |
| Aston | 6 | 9.84x |
| Wilton | 6 | 344.83x |
| Wootton Wawen | 6 | 857.14x |
| Bow London | 5 | 44.72x |
| Boston | 4 | 93.90x |
| Battersea | 3 | 9.29x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 3 | 9.80x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.71x |
| Gillingham | 2 | 32.36x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 3.83x |
| Blackburn | 1 | 3.61x |
| Borwick | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 1 | 28.74x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.42x |
| Great Missenden | 1 | 153.85x |
| Hethersgill | 1 | 555.56x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.31x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 18.35x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 1 | 13.68x |
| Sherburn | 1 | 140.85x |
| South Leith | 1 | 7.56x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 7.98x |
| West Calder | 1 | 43.10x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.61x |
| Whitehaven | 1 | 24.81x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Donell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Donell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Donell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| None | 3 |
| Inft | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Builder Employs 18 Men | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Cabman | 1 |
| Carpenter Joiner | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk Distillery | 1 |
| Dock Gateman | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Dressmaker Unemployed | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Servant Indoor | 1 |
| Fitter And Turner (Eng) | 1 |
| Fund Holder | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Governess (School Mistress) | 1 |
| Joiners Apprentice | 1 |
| Labler | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lace Hand | 1 |
| Leadworks Lab | 1 |
| Matron (Hosptl) | 1 |
| No Occn | 1 |
| Nurse (Dom) | 1 |
| Painter Unemployed | 1 |
| Paperer (Fac Lab) | 1 |
| Pawnbroker Apprentice | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Railway Guard | 1 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Supper Bar Keeper | 1 |
| Telegraphist | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Donell surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 18 in 2016. That gives Donell a modern rank of #36,832.
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Dónaill meaning "descendant of Dónall".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Donell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.