McDonald History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland-Alt
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of McDonald

What does the name McDonald mean?

The old Scottish-Dalriadan name McDonald is derived from the Anglicized version of the Gaelic personal name Mac Dhomhnuill. McDonald is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. The surname McDonald 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

McDonald 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 McDonald family

The surname McDonald 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 McDonald family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McDonald 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 McDonald History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McDonald Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of McDonald include MacDonald, Macdonald, McDonald, Donaldson, MacDonny and many more.

Early Notables of the McDonald 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 at Icolmkill. The Macdonalds trace their descent from Donald, elder son of Refinald, second son of Sommerled of Argyll, king of the Isles. On account of a dispute with the regent regarding certain lands, John of Isla joined the party of Edward Baliol, to whom, in consideration of a grant of the lands of...
Another 354 words (25 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McDonald Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McDonald World Ranking

In the United States, the name McDonald is the 117^th most popular surname with an estimated 186,525 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name McDonald is ranked the 52^nd most popular surname with an estimated 37,703 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name McDonald is the 465^th popular surname. 5 Australia ranks McDonald as 30^th with 48,189 people. 6 New Zealand ranks McDonald as 39^th with 5,539 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks McDonald as 893^rd with 7,674 people. 8

Migration of the McDonald family to Ireland

Some of the McDonald 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.

McDonald migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The McDonald were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

McDonald Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Bryan McDonald, who arrived in New Castle, Del in 1690 9

McDonald Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Caul McDonald, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 9
Rose McDonald, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 9
Randal McDonald, who arrived in New England in 1718 9
Mary McDonald, who landed in New York in 1738 9
Anna McDonald, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1738 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McDonald Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Allen McDonald, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1802 9
Daniel McDonald, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 9
Thomas McDonald, who arrived in America in 1806 9
Archibald McDonald, who arrived in America in 1809 9
Lauchlin McDonald, aged 27, who arrived in North Carolina in 1812 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McDonald Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James Edward McDonald, who arrived in Mississippi in 1900 9
Robert Walter McDonald, who arrived in Mississippi in 1900 9
W A McDonald, who arrived in Mississippi in 1900 9
Hans Peter McDonald, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1907 9
Samuel McDonald, who landed in Alabama in 1921 9

McDonald migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McDonald Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Peter McDonald, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mary McDonald, who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
William McDonald, who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
John McDonald, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
Alex McDonald, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McDonald Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James McDonald, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
John McDonald, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
Janet McDonald, aged 3, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
Janet McDonald, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Ereck McDonald, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McDonald migration to Australia +

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

McDonald Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Flora Mcdonald, (b. 1742), aged 51, Irish convict who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1800 10

McDonald Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Michael McDonald, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Francis McDonald, English convict from Devon, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Donald McDonald, Scottish convict who was convicted in Inverness, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. John Mcdonald, Scottish labourer who was convicted in Inverness, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. Daniel McDonald, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McDonald 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:

McDonald Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Adam Cummings McDONALD, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
D McDONALD, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Blenheim
Peter McDONALD, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
W H McDONALD, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Glenbevie
William McDONALD, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McDonald (post 1700) +

Arthur Bruce "Art" McDonald OC OOnt FRS FRSC (b. 1943), Canadian astrophysicist, Director of Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Institute, Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) of London, co-recipient of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics
Allan J. McDonald (d. 2021), American engineer, aerospace consultant, author and the director of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor Project for Morton-Thiokol, a NASA subcontractor
General Charles Clarence McDonald (1933-2017), United States Air Force general, Commander of the Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC) from 1989 to 1992
Steven McDonald (1957-2017), American NYPD detective who was shot and paralyzed on July 12, 1986, leaving him a quadriplegic, eponym of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award sponsored by the New York Rangers hockey team
Forrest McDonald (1927-2016), American historian, considered one of the foremost historians of the U.S. Constitution and of the early American period
Andrew Joseph McDonald (1923-2014), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Little Rock from 1972 to 2000
Eugene F. McDonald (1886-1958), American founder of Zenith Radio in 1921
Richard "Dick" J. McDonald (1909-1998), American co-founder in 1940 of the McDonald's restaurant chain
James McDonald (1886-1964), American diplomat, 1st US Ambassador to Israel
Hugh McDonald (b. 1950), American session musician and bassist
... (Another 313 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McDonald family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Miss Shirley Jane Mcdonald (1944-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Palmerston North, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 15

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Charles Keven McDonald (d. 1914), British Junior 4th Engineer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 16
Mr. Alexander Betteley McDonald (d. 1914), British Purser from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 16
Mr. Louis Adam McDonald, British Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 16

Fraterville mine

Mr. James E. McDonald (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 17

Grover Shoe factory

Mr. Daniel Mcdonald, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he survived 18

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Catherine McDonald, Canadian resident from Poor Farm Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
Mrs. Mary McDonald (1850-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
Mrs. Mary McDonald (1856-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
Mrs. Margaret McDonald, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
Mr. John McDonald (1874-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
... (Another 8 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. John Dennis McDonald (1918-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Waterloo, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20

HMS Hood

Mr. Wallace McDonald (b. 1913), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21
Mr. Harold McDonald (b. 1910), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21
Mr. Ewen McDonald (b. 1920), Scottish Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Mallaig, Inverness, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Donald Mcdonald, British Electrical Artificer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 22

HMS Repulse

Mr. James McDonald, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 23

HMS Royal Oak

Albert McDonald (1923-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24

Lady of the Lake

Mr. Charles McDonald (b. 1811), Irish labourer from Coleraine, Northern Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and he died in the sinking

Monongah Mine

Mr. Patrick McDonald, Scottish coal miner who was at the Monongah Mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 25

North Sea Flood

Ian McDonald, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Lusitania

Mr. John Mcdonald, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 26
Mr. Charles Mcdonald, English First Waiter from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 26
Mr. James Mcdonald, English Trimmer from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 26

SS Caribou

Mr. James Charles Byron McDonald (b. 1905), Newfoundland passenger who was Royal Army from Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Don E. McDonald, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 27

USS Indianapolis

Franklin Gilreath Mcdonald Jr., American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 28

Vimy Ridge

Harold Gordon McDonald (1897-1917), Canadian mechanic, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917

The McDonald 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
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
"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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
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 Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. Retrieved from https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew