origin of surname mcdonnell
MacDonnell, Macdonnell, or McDonnell is a surname of Scottish and Irish origin.It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Domhnaill, which means son of Donald (Scottish) or Domhnall (Irish). Alestair Ruadh MacDonnell (1725â1761), Scottish chief of Glengarry, secret agent and spy on Prince Charles Edward after 1750. 2  Alexander McDonnell, 9th Earl of Antrim (born 1935), British peer from Northern Ireland. 3  Alexander McDonnell (1798â1835), Irish chess master.