Surname O'Donnellean - Meaning and Origin

O'Donnellean: What does the surname O'Donnellean mean?

The last name O'Donnellean is of Irish origin and is derived from the Irish name Ó Domhnaill, which translates to “descendant of Domhnall”. Domhnall is an ancient Irish name composed of two elements. The first is ‘dumno’, which means ‘world’, and the second is ‘val’, which roughly translates to ‘might’ or ‘rule.’ Therefore, “Ó Domhnaill” loosely translates to “descendant of the mighty ruler of the world.”

The O'Donnellean last name is found all over Ireland, particularly in Galway and Donegal. It has also spread to Great Britain and on to North America. It is one of the most common names in Ireland, and also one of the oldest. Records of the O'Donnellean clan are found as far back as the 10th century, when Donagh O'Donnellean was the chief of the Clan O'Donnellean in Donegal.

The O'Donnellean family have centuries of strong ties to Ireland and they are known for their dedication to their culture and history. They have been involved in some of the most important struggles, bonfires, hunts, and fairs of the Irish people and, this is one way in which they keep alive their traditions.

The name O'Donnellean is a testament to its proud Irish heritage. Its ancient origin and its long connection to Ireland give a unique sense of identity and pride to those who bear this name.

O'Donnellean: Where does the name O'Donnellean come from?

The last name O'Donnellean is extremely common in the Irish diaspora around the world. In Ireland, O'Donnellean is the 134th most common surname, and is most likely to be found in the western and northern counties of Connacht and Ulster. As a result, O'Donnellean is also found in high concentrations in places with large Irish diaspora communities - the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

In the United States, the last name O'Donnellean is one of the most common Irish surnames. It is the 129th most common last name overall and the 19th most common Irish surname. In the state of Massachusetts alone, the last name O'Donnellean is estimated to have over 5,000 bearers, indicating a significant presence in the Irish diaspora in the state.

In the United Kingdom, the surname O'Donnellean is also relatively common, though slightly less so than in the United States. According to a 2013 survey conducted by the National Trust, O'Donnellean is the 87th most common surname in the UK, the 10th most common surname among Irish communities.

In Canada, the surname O'Donnellean is also found in high concentrations, although it is not as common as in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the 2016 census, O’Donnellean was the 260th most common surname in the country, although it was the 18th most common Irish-origin surname.

There is also a meaningful presence of the last name O'Donnellean in Australia. According to the 2016 census, O'Donnellean was the 149th most common surname in the country and the 11th most common Irish-originated surname.

Variations of the surname O'Donnellean

The surnames O'Donnellan, O'Donnelan, and O'Donnelon are all variants of the same name with the same origin. The original form of the name was Ó Domhnaill which is derived from the Gaelic words 'dubh', meaning dark or black, and 'domhnull', meaning world ruler or chief.

The O'Donnelan spelling is the most common version of the surname today, but it was spelled differently in the past. Other historical spellings have included Duffnall, Dunelle, O’Donnelan, O’Donnel and O’Donnellan.

The O’Donnelan variants are also sometimes spelled O’Donnelle or O’Donnellen. Occasionally spellings such as Donnels or Donnill may be found, and other variants include Donill, Donal, Donell and Donley.

The O'Donnellan name is sometimes anglicized as Donlan, Donlanne, Donelan, Donellan and Donnellan. The O’Donnell and O’Donnelly variants may also be anglicized to Donnell or Donnellly.

The origin of the O'Donnellan name is linked to the powerful O'Donnell dynasty that once ruled parts of Ulster. The original Irish Gaelic form of the name was Ó Domhnaill, and the surname is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and Australia.

Famous people with the name O'Donnellean

• Rosie O'Donnell: Comedian, actress, author, and television host.
• P. J. O'Donnell: American comedic actor and playwright.
• Sean O'Donnell: Retired professional hockey player known for his defensive play.
• T. J. O'Donnell: Irish television and radio presenter.
• John Patrick O'Donnell: U.S. Army general.
• Eamon O'Donnell: Former US diplomat and intelligence officer.
• Dermot O'Donnell: Irish actor and playwright.
• Liam O'Donnell: Screenwriter and film director.
• Bobby O'Donnell: Retired American professional wrestler.
• Joe O'Donnell: Irish classical guitarist, vocalist, and composer.

Other surnames

O'Donnell