Surname Donnellan - Meaning and Origin
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Donnellan: What does the surname Donnellan mean?
The last name Donnellan is an ancient Gaelic surname. It originates in County Clare, Ireland, and is derived from the Irish surname O'Domhnaill, which is from the Irish Gaelic "o" meaning "grandson of" and "Domhnall," the Gaelic for "world-mighty." This surname may also be spelled as Donnellon, Donnelan, O'Donnellan, Dononue, Donanue, O'Donnelan, Donone, O'Donellan, and Donellan.
The name Donnellan is associated with the important Donnelly clan, which was an influential medieval family in Clare. They were of royal lineage, the descendants of Domhnall O’Domhnaill, fifth century king of Connacht. The Donnellys were a sept of the Ui Maine dynasty, connected to the MacDermots of Moylurg and the O'Conors. In the 1300s, The O'Donnellys were lords of Kineagh barony, located in Clare. Unfortunately, their power was lost after the Cromwellian and Jacobite Catholic uprisings. In later decades, many members of the Donnellan clan spread throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.
Today, the name Donnellan represents a connection to the history and ancient heritage of one of Ireland's most renowned clans. It also serves as a reminder of a lineage of proud and resilient people who persevered against all odds in their tumultuous past. It conveys a sense of aristocracy and honor, as well as the strength and courage that comes with having a long and noble history.
Order DNA origin analysisDonnellan: Where does the name Donnellan come from?
The last name Donnellan is most common in Ireland today. In the 2016 census, 1,599 individuals shared the last name, making it the 134th most commonly reported name in the country. The majority of individuals with this surname live in the Province of Munster, where it is currently the 87th most popular, specifically in areas such as Clare, Galway, and Limerick. Donnellan is also prevalent in other countries with strong ties to Ireland, such as the United Kingdom, where it is the 1498th most commonly used name, and the United States, where it is the 6994th most popular.
The origin of the surname Donnellan is believed to be derived from an ancient Irish clan of the Ui Maine kingdom, which is located in the modern day counties of Galway and Roscommon. Legends say the clan originated from a Breton knight, Dónal an Chogaidh, who lived in the tenth century and served as military commander in the court of the King of Connacht at the time. This may explain why the surname is so common in the southwest of Ireland.
The actual meaning of Donnellan can be translated as ‘little or brave world leader’, which is thought to refer to the valiant role Dónal an Chogaidh played in the kingdom of Connacht. Numerous members of this historically important Irish family have been noted for their service in the military, such as the heroic Lord of the Tens who defended the castle at Tuam from the forces of the Earl of Clanricard in the 16th century; and in the field of politics, such as the 17th century Member of Parliament for Leitrim, Charles O'Donnellan.
Variations of the surname Donnellan
Donnellan is the anglicized form of an Irish Gaelic surname that was traditionally O'Donnghaile in its original form. It is also sometimes found spelled as Donelan, O'Donnelan, Donlon, Donnelly, Donnelley, Donalagha, Donalaghan, Donaghy, Donlap, and Donnellon.
The surname is derived from the prefix 'O', which means 'descendant of' and the Gaelic personal name Donnghaile, which is composed of two parts: 'Donn' which means 'brown' or 'swarthy' and 'giolla', meaning 'follower' or 'devotee'. As such, the name can be translated literally as one who is “devoted to the brown-haired man”. The surname is probably derived from a nickname attributed to a first-named ancestor.
One of the first records of the Donnellan surname is found in County Donegal in the 16th Century. As the Irish left during the Irish diaspora, Donnellan appeared in places such as; Scotland around the time of the 17th Century Plantation, other areas of Ireland and England, as well as Wales, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The Donnellan surname is most commonly found in Ireland, where the highest concentration of it is in Counties Galway and Clare. Although the surname is common throughout the whole country, there is an especially large population in Gallagh, a townland near Kilbannon, County Galway.
Today, the surname Donnellan can be found internationally and is most prevalent in Ireland, England, Canada, and the United States. The variants Donelan, O'Donnelan, Donlon, etc. all carry the same origin, and are still recognizable internationally.
Famous people with the name Donnellan
- Niall Donnellan: English cricketer
- Matt Donnellan: American stand-up comedian
- Jean Marie Donnellan: Irish Fine Gael politician
- Phil Donnellan: Irish soccer referee
- Jack Donnellan: British actor
- Michele Donnellan: New Zealand Radio Host
- Joe Donnellan: Australian artist
- Bobby Donnellan: Celtic footballer from Ireland
- Donal Donnellan: Irish stage actor, director, and movement director
- Rachel Donnellan: English professional dancer