McDaniel is a Scottish surname, being a variant of the prominent surname MacDonald. It is an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Mac Dhòmhnaill, meaning 'son of Donald', where Donald itself derives from the Gaelic Dòmhnall, 'world ruler', from Old Irish domun 'world' and fal 'rule'. This origin ties the surname to the legendary Clan Donald, a major Highland clan.Notable BearersThe surname McDaniel has been borne by several notable individuals, particularly in the United States. Hattie McDaniel (1895–1952) was an influential American actress who made history in 1940 as the first African-American to win an Academy Award, for her supporting role in Gone with the Wind. Her siblings Etta McDaniel (1890–1946) and Sam McDaniel (1886–1962) were also actors. Ellas McDaniel (1928–2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was a pioneering rock and roll guitarist and singer. Other notable bearers include baseball player Barry McDaniel, guitarist and singer Clara McDaniel, and writer David McDaniel. In politics, Henry Dickerson McDaniel served as Governor of Georgia from 1883 to 1886.Meaning: Son of Donald ('world ruler')Origin: ScottishType: SurnameUsage Regions: Scotland, United States