Surname ODonnell - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the O'Donnell Lineage: My Emotional Tale of DNA Testing with iGENEA
Embarking on a DNA testing journey with iGENEA, I embarked on an adventure of self-discovery, peeling back the layers of my ancestry, fostering an emotional connection with my ancient bloodline, insiders of the O'Donnell clan. The test results delivered not just data but a profound emotional resonance and a deeper understanding of my heritage.
B. ODonnell
read moreODonnell: What does the surname ODonnell mean?
The last name O'Donnell is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name Ó Domhnaill, which means "descendant of Domhnall". The name Domhnall itself consists of two elements: "domno", meaning "world", and "val", meaning "might" or "rule". Hence, the full interpretation of the name can be "ruler of the world”. The O'Donnells were an extremely powerful family in Ireland, particularly in the 14th and 15th centuries, ruling large territories in the northwestern regions. This surname is prevalent across Ireland and is notably associated with County Donegal. Different spellings exist such as ‘O’Donnel’, ‘Donnell’, or ‘Donell’, due to its phonetic transcription from the Gaelic language to English. Today, O'Donnell is a popular last name not just in Ireland, but also in the U.S. and many other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisODonnell: Where does the name ODonnell come from?
The last name ODonnell is a common Irish surname rooted in Gaelic origin. It is believed to have descended from the Irish Gaelic O' Donnghaile clan. This name is still common in Ireland and other countries today that have significant Irish diaspora populations, such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The ODonnell surname is particularly common in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht in Ireland, as well as in Appalachia in the United States and Canada's Maritime Provinces. It is also widespread in the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In addition, a high concentration of ODonnells can be found in Australia, in the states of Victoria and New South Wales.
In the United States, the 2020 United States Census ranks the ODonnell surname as the 644th most common surname. In the United Kingdom, it ranks 59th in terms of its frequency.
The ODonnell heritage appears to be staunchly embedded in countries that today have large Irish diaspora populations. With such widespread prevalence, there's a good chance that the ODonnell surname is in your family tree.
Variations of the surname ODonnell
The surname ODonnell is a very common one throughout the Irish diaspora. Common variants and spellings of the name ODonnell include O'Donnell, O'Donell, O'Donell, O'Donnel, and O'Donil. Some variants of the name outside of Ireland may also include Donnell, Donel, Donill, Donell, Donall, Danell, and Danel.
The surname is derived from the Irish name O Domhnaill, meaning 'descendant of Domhnall'. This is an old Gaelic personal name, from a term meaning ‘world ruler’. The O prefix placed before the surname signified the names' heritage to the ancient Gaelic monarchy of Ireland.
Apart from the surname ODonnell, the variant spellings and surnames of the same origin may also include variants such as Donnellan, Donnelly, Donahoe, Donahy, Donaghy, Doheny, Doan, and Doherty. These surnames are all believed to trace their roots to the same ancient Gaelic kings of Ireland – with ODonnell being the principal and most popular variant of the surname.
Finally, other variants of the surname may include Donaghue, Denahy, Dohany, Donnelley, Donagh, Donoher, Donigan, Donohery, Donnahoe, Donnelly, and Donnelan. All of these surnames are derived from the ancient Gaelic personal and clan name O Domhnaill – meaning ‘descendant of Domhnall’.
Famous people with the name ODonnell
- Rosie O’Donnell: an American comedian and television host
- Tracy O’Donnell: an American television and film producer
- Loretta O’Donnell: an American stage, film, and television actress
- Neil O'Donnell: a retired American football quarterback
- John Joseph O’Donnell: known as JJ O’Donnell, a former North American professional ice hockey player
- Mark O’Donnell: an American Tony Award-winning author and actor
- Robert O’Donnell: an American politician who served as Governor of Rhode Island
- Erin O’Donnell: an American actor, director, and playwright
- Tony O'Donnell: a Maryland State Senator
- Mike O’Donnell: a retired Professional Hockey Player