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Irish surname

O'Donnell: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Domhnaill · 'descendant of Domhnall' (world-mighty)

O'Donnell is an anglicised form of Ó Domhnaill, 'descendant of Domhnall', and Woulfe (1923) records several distinct families of the name. The most important, in his account, held sway in Tirconnell for four centuries, and he calls Red Hugh O'Donnell the most celebrated of its chieftains. In Matheson's 1890 survey O'Donnell was the 44th most common surname in Ireland, about 13,900 people, chiefly in Donegal, Mayo and Galway.

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Coat of arms associated with the O'Donnell surname
Irish formÓ Domhnaill
Meaning'descendant of Domhnall' (world-mighty)
CountiesDonegal, Clare, Galway, Mayo
Other spellings4

Origin of the O'Donnell name

Woulfe names six of the most important Ó Domhnaill families: Tirconaill, descended (in his account) from Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages; Corcabaskin in West Clare; Ui Maine (Clann Flaitheamhail, Co. Galway); Carlow (Ui Drona, now Idrone); Cinel Binnigh, a Cinel Eoghain sept; and Ui Eathach, an Oirghialla sept in Co. Armagh.[1]

  1. 868Death of Dalach, source of the O'Donnell clan-name Clann Dalaigh.[1]
  2. 1014A lord of Corcabaskin, ancestor of the Clare O'Donnells, is slain at Clontarf.[1]
  3. 1537Manus O'Donnell inaugurated Lord of Tirconnell.[2]
  4. 1587Young Hugh Roe O'Donnell seized aboard ship off Rathmullen, imprisoned in Dublin.[3]
  5. 1602Red Hugh O'Donnell dies at Simancas, Spain, 10 September.[3]
  6. 1607Rury O'Donnell, Earl of Tirconnell, flees to the Continent with Hugh O'Neill.[4]
  7. 1890O'Donnell is 44th of Ireland's principal surnames, about 13,900 people.[5]

Where in Ireland

Co. DonegalLeading O'Donnell county in 1890; Manus O'Donnell's principal residence was at Donegal.[6][2]
Co. ClareLords of Corcabaskin until dispossessed by the MacMahons early in the 14th century.[1]
Co. GalwayÓ Domhnaill of Ui Maine, chiefs of Clann Flaitheamhail; a principal county in 1890.[1][6]
Co. MayoOne of the three counties where Matheson found O'Donnell principally in 1890.[6]
Co. CarlowÓ Domhnaill anciently lords of Ui Drona, now the barony of Idrone.[1]
Co. ArmaghÓ Domhnaill of Ui Eathach, a sept of the Oirghialla.[1]

Notable people named O'Donnell

Manus O'Donnelld. 1564Lord of Tirconnell from 1537; built a castle at Lifford in 1527, where he died.[2]
Hugh Roe (Red Hugh) O'Donnell1571–1602Lord of Tirconnell; escaped from Dublin Castle in December 1591; marched to Kinsale in 1601; died in Spain.[3]
Rury O'Donnell, Earl of Tirconnell1575–1608Red Hugh's younger brother; made Earl in 1603; left with Hugh O'Neill in 1607; died at Rome.[4]
Leopold O'Donnell19th centuryBecame prime minister of Spain and Duke of Tetuan (Woulfe).[1]

Other spellings

Donnell · Daniel · O Donill · O Daniell[1]

The O'Donnell coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the O'Donnell surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

O'Donnell crest gifts

Clan Donnell Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap GB94 Donnell Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Donnell Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Odonnell Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapWT82 Classic Cap - Odonnell Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Odonnell Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Donnell Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapKI20 Classic Cap - Donnell Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Donnell Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

O'Donnell surname: questions

What does the surname O'Donnell mean?

Woulfe gives O'Donnell as the anglicised Ó Domhnaill, 'descendant of Domhnall'; he explains Domhnall as 'world-mighty', an ancient and very common Irish personal name.[1]

Where in Ireland is O'Donnell from?

The most important family, according to Woulfe, ruled Tirconnell. He also records Ó Domhnaill families in West Clare (Corcabaskin), Galway (Ui Maine), Carlow (Idrone) and Armagh (Ui Eathach). In 1890 the name was principally found in Donegal, Mayo and Galway.[1][6]

Are O'Donnell and Daniel the same name?

Woulfe lists Daniel among the anglicised forms of Ó Domhnaill and notes that the personal name Domhnall is 'now generally anglicised Daniel'.[1]

Who was Red Hugh O'Donnell?

Hugh Roe O'Donnell (1571–1602), Lord of Tirconnell. Seized as a youth in 1587 and held in Dublin, he escaped in December 1591 after a failed attempt in 1590, came before Kinsale with Hugh O'Neill in December 1601, and died at Simancas in Spain in 1602.[3]

How common is O'Donnell in Ireland?

In Matheson's 1890 survey O'Donnell was 44th of the hundred principal surnames, with about 13,900 people.[5]

Sources

  1. Ó Domhnaill — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-domhnaill.php
  2. O'Donnell, Manus — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/ManusODonnell.php
  3. O'Donnell, Hugh Roe — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/HughRoeODonnell.php
  4. O'Donnell, Rury — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/RuryODonnell.php
  5. Principal Surnames in Ireland (table of 100 principal surnames, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/principal-surnames-ireland.php
  6. O'Donnell — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/odonnell.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).