Macdonald History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland-Alt
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Macdonald

What does the name Macdonald mean?

The ancestors of the Macdonald family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The family name comes from the Anglicized version of the Gaelic personal name Mac Dhomhnuill. Macdonald is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. The surname Macdonald arose from the vernacular naming tradition, whereby surnames were formed by adopting the given name of one's father, or another ancestor. This name was first found in Kintyre, where members of this family had resided for many years.

Most historians note the name claims descent through the High Kings of Ireland, namely Colla Uais and Conn of the Hundred Battles. Movement between Scotland and Ireland was very frequent over the centuries. 1

Macdonald Coat of Arms Creation

The story of the cross is that an ancestor of the MacDonalds helped St Patrick to establish Christianity in Ireland, and in this way had the cross associated with his name.

The MacDonald motto is in Gaelic " Air muir 's air tir " ; in Latin, " Per mare per terras."

Sir Walter Scott in The Lord of the Isles writes :-

" Lord of the Isles, my trust's in thee

As firm as Ailsa rock ;

Rush on with Highland sword and targe,

I with my Carrick spearmen charge,

Go forward to the shock." 2

Early Origins of the Macdonald family

The surname Macdonald was first found in Kintyre, and much of the Eastern islands and coast-lands where members of this Clan, descended through Somerled, Lord of the Isles and had resided for many years.

Early History of the Macdonald family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Macdonald research. Another 300 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1329, 1335, 1336, 1341, 1342, 1386, 1415, 1420, 1424, 1449, 1456, 1498, 1603, 1692 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Macdonald History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Macdonald Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name Macdonald include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include MacDonald, Macdonald, McDonald, Donaldson, MacDonny and many more.

Early Notables of the Macdonald family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

John of Islay, or John MacDonald, (d. 1386), the first Lord of the Isles (1336-1386) and chief of Clan Donald. He was he was the son of Angus Og Macdonald, who died at Isla about 1329, and was buried...
Donald MacDonald second Lord of the Isles and ninth Earl of Ross (d. 1420?), was the eldest son of John Macdonald, first Lord of the Isles [q. v.], by his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Robert II...
Alexander MacDonald, third Lord of the Isles, and tenth Earl of Ross (d. 1449), was the eldest son of Donald Macdonald, second Lord of the Isles [q. v.] by Mary Leslie, daughter of the Countess of Ros...
John MacDonald , fourth and last Lord of the Isles, and eleventh Earl of Ross (d. 1498?), was the only legitimate son of Alexander, third Lord of the Isles [q. v.], by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of...

Macdonald World Ranking

In the United States, the name Macdonald is the 821^st most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Macdonald is ranked the 10^th most popular surname with an estimated 78,766 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name Macdonald is the 140^th popular surname with an estimated 20,149 people with that name. 5 New Zealand ranks Macdonald as 52^nd with 5,280 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Macdonald as 132^nd with 38,244 people. 7

Migration of the Macdonald family to Ireland

Some of the Macdonald family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Macdonald migration to the United States +

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Macdonald or a variant listed above:

Macdonald Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Daniel MacDonald, who landed in Virginia in 1731 8
Norman and Elizabeth Macdonald, and their two children who settled in Georgia in 1741
Daniel Macdonald, who settled in New Jersey sometime between 1730 and 1749
Archibald MacDonald, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 8
James Macdonald, who landed in North Carolina in 1772 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Macdonald Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alastair Macdonald, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1803 8
Moore MacDonald, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 8
Robert MacDonald, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 8
William MacDonald, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 8
Thomas MacDonald, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Macdonald Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John J Macdonald, who landed in California in 1900 8
James Ernest Macdonald, who arrived in Colorado in 1903 8
Samuel MacDonald, who arrived in Colorado in 1903 8
Alexander MacDonald, who arrived in Mississippi in 1905 8
Carmen Claude MacDonald, who landed in Alabama in 1920 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Macdonald migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Macdonald Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Charles MacDonald, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia from Skye, in 1776
Ensign. Soirle MacDonald U.E., (Soril, Soirlee, Sorley, Samuel, Soyle) (b. 1730) born in Isle of Skye, Scotland from North Carolina, USA who settled in Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia c. 1783, returned to the Isle of Skye, Scotland in 1790 originally arriving in America in m1771, listed as serving in the Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment, married to Flora Nicolson in Scotland in 1765 having 4 children he died in 1830 9
Private. Alexander MacDonald U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the Queen's Loyal Rangers 9
Mr. Alexander MacDonald Sr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 9
Mr. Alan MacDonald U.E. born in Scotland from North Carolina, USA who settled in Douglas Township [Kennetcook], Hants County, Nova Scotia c. 1784, then moved to England before finally settling Isle of Skye in Scotland he served in the Royal Highlands Emigrants, and the 84th Regiment, married to Flora they had 6 children 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Macdonald Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Donald Macdonald, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
Ronald Macdonald, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
Janet Macdonald, aged 3, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
John MacDonald, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Jon Macdonald, aged 6, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Macdonald migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Macdonald Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Abell Macdonald, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Richard Macdonald, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. George Macdonald, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Edward MacDonald, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. William Macdonald, British Convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Macdonald migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Macdonald Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Alexander Macdonald, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 15
Mrs. Mary Macdonald, (b. 1811), aged 36, British settler with 6 children travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 15
Miss Macdonald, (b. 1847), aged Infant, British settler born aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847, she died on board 15
Mr. MacDonald, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "John Wickliffe" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 23rd March 1848 16
Mr. A. MacDonald, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Simlah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1851 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Macdonald migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 17

Macdonald Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

John Macdonald, who arrived in Jamaica in 1792 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Macdonald (post 1700) +

Sir John Alexander Macdonald (1815-1891), Scottish-born, Canadian statesman and twice Prime Minister of Canada (1867-1873 and 1878-1891) one of the Fathers of Confederation 18
James Ross Macdonald (1923-2024), American physicist who was instrumental in building up the Central Research laboratories of Texas Instruments (TI)
Ian Pirie MacDonald (1867-1942), American portrait photographer
Dwight MacDonald (1906-1982), American writer, editor, social critic, philosopher, and political radical 19
Charles H. MacDonald, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 27 aerial victories
Euan James Stuart MacDonald MBE (1974-2024), Scottish businessman
Fergie MacDonald MBE (1937-2024), Scottish accordionist who specialised in ceilidh music and played the button accordion
Keith Roy Macdonald (1933-2021), Scottish rugby union player who played for the Barbarians and represented the national team
Maggie Macdonald (1952-2016), née Michie, a Scottish Gaelic singer and primary school teacher
Rory MacDonald (b. 1949), Scottish folk-rock musician and songwriter 20
... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Macdonald family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Lawrence Kay MacDonald, British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 21

Halifax Explosion

Master Arthur MacDonald (1911-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Mrs. Rosanna MacDonald, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 22
Mrs. Margaret MacDonald (1880-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Master Allan MacDonald (1914-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Miss Ethel MacDonald (1899-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
... (Another 3 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Frank Leslie MacDonald, English Gunner from North End, Portsmouth, England, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II (1942) and died in the sinking 23

HMS Hood

Mr. Alastair D Macdonald (b. 1923), Scottish Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Cupar, Fife, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24

HMS Repulse

Mr. George MacDonald, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 25

Vimy Ridge

Alexander Victor MacDonald (1897-1917), Canadian clerk, Lance Sergeant in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917
Hugh MacDonald (1874-1917), Canadian farmer, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge January 1917
Thomas Gunn MacDonald (1882-1917), Canadian trainman CNR, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge May 1917

The Macdonald Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per mare per terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.

Sources +

O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
John Macdonald. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) John Macdonald. Retrieved from http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/primeministers/h4-3025-e.html
Dwight MacDonald. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Dwight MacDonald. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_Macdonald
Rory MacDonald. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Rory MacDonald. Retrieved from http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_features.php?id=5425
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html