UK surname
A Scottish surname meaning "son of Donald".
In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Mcdonal surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #24,561 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Manchester and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdonal is 133 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 78.1%.
1881 census count
64
Ranked #24,561
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1861
133 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcdonal surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcdonal 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 | 126 | #14,626 |
| 1861 | historical | 133 | #16,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 64 | #24,561 |
| 1891 | historical | 69 | #28,188 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 22 | #31,030 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 15 | #37,046 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Manchester, Wigan, Liverpool and Glasgow. 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 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcdonal 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 Mcdonal, 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 Mcdonal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcdonal 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, Mcdonal 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 Mcdonal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcdonal, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCDONAL is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name 'MacDhomhnuill' which means 'son of Donald'. It first appeared in the 13th century in areas such as Argyll, Islay, and Kintyre in western Scotland.
The name is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally formed by adding 'mac' (meaning 'son of') to the personal name Donald. Over time, the spelling evolved to MCDONAL, with various other spellings such as McDonald, MacDonald, and McDonell also being used.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the 14th century Ragman Rolls, which were a series of documents recording the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears several times in these rolls, including Alisandre McDonal and Gillecrist McDonal.
In the 15th century, the MCDONAL surname was particularly prominent in the Clan Donald, one of the largest and most powerful Scottish clans of the time. Notable members included John MCDONAL, Lord of the Isles (c. 1434-1503), and his son Alexander MCDONAL (c. 1455-1538), who was also Lord of the Isles.
Another influential figure was Ranald MCDONAL, Chief of the Clan Ranald (c. 1610-1686), who played a significant role in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in the 17th century. He was known for leading his clan in support of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, one of the most famous bearers of the MCDONAL surname was Flora MCDONAL (1722-1790), who helped Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender, evade government troops after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Her actions became a celebrated part of Jacobite folklore.
Moving into the 19th century, Archibald MCDONAL (1799-1870) was a prominent Canadian politician and businessman who served as the first Premier of the United Province of Canada from 1858 to 1862.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdonal 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. Lancashire leads with 3 Mcdonals recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 3 | 5.21x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 6.11x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 2.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Turton in Lancashire leads with 3 Mcdonals recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Turton | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Bilston | 1 | 312.50x |
| York St Denis In | 1 | 5000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcdonal 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 Mcdonal surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 1 |
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 Mcdonal households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cotton Waxer | 1 |
| Fire Beater Cotton Manuf At A Paper Works | 1 |
| Match Mill Girl Fusee | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Mcdonal surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Mcdonal a modern rank of #37,178.
A Scottish surname meaning "son of Donald".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcdonal 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.