UK surname
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Domhnaill meaning "descendant of Domhnall".
In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Odonell surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #16,515 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Houston and Killellan, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Odonell is 163 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 81.5%.
1881 census count
135
Ranked #16,515
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1861
163 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Odonell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Odonell 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 | 147 | #13,084 |
| 1861 | historical | 163 | #14,242 |
| 1881 | historical | 135 | #16,515 |
| 1891 | historical | 156 | #17,842 |
| 1901 | historical | 153 | #17,844 |
| 1911 | historical | 111 | #21,392 |
| 1997 | modern | 42 | #33,459 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 29 | #35,031 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 22 | #36,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Houston and Killellan, Gateshead, Edinburgh, West Linton and Greenock. 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 | Houston and Killellan | Renfrew |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | West Linton | Peebles |
| 5 | Greenock | Renfrew |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Odonell 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 Odonell, 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 Odonell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Odonell 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, Odonell 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 Odonell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Odonell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ODONELL originated in Ireland during the medieval period. It is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Domhnaill, which means "descendant of Domhnall" or "son of Domhnall". Domhnall was a popular personal name derived from the Old Irish words "domun" meaning "world" and "val" meaning "rule" or "might".
The name Ó Domhnaill first appeared in records as the surname of a powerful clan based in Donegal, a county in the northern part of Ireland. They were descendants of the ancient Cenél Conaill dynasty that ruled the region for centuries. The ODONELL clan held significant power and influence in Donegal during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ODONELL can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by monks in the 15th century. The annals mention several members of the ODONELL clan, including Domhnall Óg Ó Domhnaill, who died in 1281.
Another notable figure was Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill (c. 1380-1439), a powerful chieftain of the ODONELL clan who played a significant role in the politics of 15th century Ireland. He is mentioned in various historical records and manuscripts from that period.
In the 16th century, Red Hugh O'Donnell (c. 1572-1602) was a famous Irish military leader and one of the principal figures in the Nine Years' War against English rule in Ireland. He led a rebellion against the English and is remembered as a hero in Irish history.
The surname ODONELL also appeared in other parts of Ireland, such as County Mayo, where it was sometimes spelled as O'Donnell or McDonnell. One notable bearer was Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill (c. 1572-1629), a chieftain of the ODONELL clan in Mayo who fought against English forces during the Irish Confederate Wars.
Another prominent figure was Sir Niall Garve O'Donnell (c. 1560-1626), a Scottish military commander who served in the Swedish and Danish armies during the Thirty Years' War. He was born in Ireland but spent much of his life in continental Europe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Odonell 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. Lanarkshire leads with 12 Odonells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 12 | 6.80x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 1.70x |
| Renfrewshire | 9 | 21.27x |
| East Lothian | 7 | 96.82x |
| Dunbartonshire | 3 | 20.45x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.55x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.37x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 2.73x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.98x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.83x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.88x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.93x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.97x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.54x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 12.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Odonells recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 7 | 22.32x |
| Haddington | 7 | 654.21x |
| Liverpool | 6 | 15.25x |
| West Greenock | 5 | 65.79x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 3 | 21.19x |
| Port Glasgow | 3 | 146.34x |
| Row | 3 | 157.89x |
| Barony | 2 | 4.48x |
| Bow London | 2 | 28.78x |
| Tadcaster West | 2 | 465.12x |
| Boness | 1 | 88.50x |
| Burntwood Edial | 1 | 84.75x |
| Clifton | 1 | 18.48x |
| Duddingston | 1 | 68.03x |
| Dundee | 1 | 5.30x |
| Edinburgh Old Church | 1 | 169.49x |
| Eston | 1 | 84.75x |
| Hamilton | 1 | 20.28x |
| Henley On Thames | 1 | 144.93x |
| Kirkham | 1 | 116.28x |
| Lanark | 1 | 70.42x |
| Lesmahagow | 1 | 53.48x |
| Middle Greenock | 1 | 86.96x |
| Newton Abbot St Mary | 1 | 105.26x |
| Poulton Le Fylde | 1 | 434.78x |
| Wettenhall | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Odonell 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 Odonell 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 Odonell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| A Porter Bottler Cellarwoman | 1 |
| Ag Laborer | 1 |
| Agric Lab | 1 |
| Almshouse | 1 |
| Bottler In Stores Cellarman | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer (Wife) | 1 |
| Farm Labourer Ag Lab | 1 |
| Farm Serv Indoor | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Rigger | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Odonell surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Odonell a modern rank of #36,324.
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Domhnaill meaning "descendant of Domhnall".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Odonell 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.