UK surname
An Irish surname meaning "son of Donal" or "descendant of a dark-featured man".
In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Mcdonnel surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #19,518 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Old or West Kilpatrick, Rochdale and Kirkmichael. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdonnel is 173 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.5%.
1881 census count
102
Ranked #19,518
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1851
173 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcdonnel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcdonnel surname density by area, 1881 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 | 173 | #11,629 |
| 1861 | historical | 85 | #22,922 |
| 1881 | historical | 102 | #19,518 |
| 1891 | historical | 42 | #31,018 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 54 | #32,210 |
| 1998 | modern | 51 | #32,816 |
| 1999 | modern | 47 | #33,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 38 | #34,146 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 29 | #35,605 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 27 | #35,956 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 31 | #35,876 |
| 2013 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 26 | #36,228 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Old or West Kilpatrick, Rochdale, Kirkmichael, Warden, Black Carts and Ryehill and Manchester. 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 | Old or West Kilpatrick | Dunbarton |
| 2 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 3 | Kirkmichael | Ayr |
| 4 | Warden, Black Carts and Ryehill | Northumberland |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcdonnel 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 Mcdonnel, 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 Mcdonnel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcdonnel 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, Mcdonnel 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 Mcdonnel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcdonnel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "McDonnel" is of Scottish origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is a variant of the Gaelic name "MacDhòmhnaill," which translates to "son of Donald." The name is derived from the personal name "Donald," which itself means "world ruler" or "world mighty."
The McDonnel surname was first found in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the areas of Argyll, Skye, and the Hebrides Islands. The earliest known bearer of the name was Somhairle MacGill-Adhunaidh, who lived in the 12th century and was a prominent leader in the Kingdom of the Isles.
In the 13th century, the McDonnel clan played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. One notable figure was Angus Mor McDonnel, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce against the English forces. The name is also mentioned in several medieval Scottish manuscripts, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 14th century.
The McDonnels were a prominent clan in the Scottish Highlands, and their influence extended to Ulster, Ireland, where they established a powerful dynasty known as the MacDonnells of Antrim. One of the earliest recorded individuals from this Irish branch was John Mor McDonnel, who was born in the late 14th century and became the Lord of the Isles in Scotland.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname McDonnel or its variants. One such person was Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim (1609-1683), who played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars. Another was Alexander McDonnell (1798-1835), a Scottish-Canadian fur trader and explorer who was instrumental in the early exploration and settlement of the Canadian West.
Other notable individuals include Sir Alexander McDonnell (1833-1915), a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Windward Islands and the Lieutenant Governor of St. Vincent, and John McDonnell (1854-1923), an Irish-American labor leader and socialist politician who co-founded the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).
The McDonnel surname has also been associated with various place names, particularly in Scotland and Ireland. For example, the village of Kintyre in Argyll, Scotland, was once known as "Kintyre McDonnel," reflecting the clan's historical presence in the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdonnel 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 9 Mcdonnels recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.30x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 3.30x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 3.33x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.85x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.79x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.07x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.29x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Keighley in Yorkshire leads with 7 Mcdonnels recorded in 1881 and an index of 243.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Keighley | 7 | 243.06x |
| Stoke Newington London | 5 | 234.74x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 4 | 56.50x |
| Mile End New Town | 3 | 810.81x |
| Hulme | 2 | 29.59x |
| Boston | 1 | 75.76x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 140.85x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 44.05x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 71.43x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 19.42x |
| Ryde | 1 | 83.33x |
| Wakefield | 1 | 48.08x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcdonnel 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 Mcdonnel 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 Mcdonnel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Factory Operative (C) | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Engine Driver | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| Governess (Dom) | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Labourer (General) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| M D Edinburgh M R C S | 1 |
| Mate 2nd | 1 |
| Medical Student | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Mcdonnel surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Mcdonnel a modern rank of #36,392.
An Irish surname meaning "son of Donal" or "descendant of a dark-featured man".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcdonnel 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.