Meaning & History
MacDaniel is a Scottish surname. It is a variant of MacDonald, which itself is the Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacDhòmhnaill, meaning "son of Donald." The name Donald derives from the Gaelic Dòmhnall, composed of Old Irish elements domun "world" and fal "rule," thus signifying "ruler of the world."
As a variant of MacDonald, the surname MacDaniel is historically linked to the powerful Scottish Clan Donald, one of the largest and most influential Highland clans. The clan's territory was primarily in the Hebrides and the western Highlands. The earliest known bearer of the name Donald was a 9th-century king of the Scots and Picts. The surname McDonald and its variants including MacDaniel spread throughout Scotland and into Ulster, Ireland, and later to other English-speaking countries.
Related surnames include McDaniel (a more common spelling), MacConnell, and Donaldson. The Gaelic original MacDhòmhnaill remains a surname in its own right.
- Meaning: Son of Donald ("ruler of the world")
- Origin: Scottish (Highlands)
- Type: Surname
- Usage: Principally Scottish; also found in English-speaking countries
Related Names
Sources: Forebears — macdaniel