McDonald

An Irish surname of Antrim, Dublin, and Wexford. In the 2010 US census it was carried by 180,497 people, the 143rd most common surname in the country.

Mac Domhnaill. This family stood in Co. Antrim, Co. Fermanagh, Co. Laois, and Co. Wicklow.

Where the name comes from

Mac Domhnaill is son of Domhnall, world-mighty, anglicised both Donald and Daniel. The MacDonalds of Scotland descend from Domhnall, grandson of Somhairle, thane of Argyle about the middle of the 12th century. They were the most powerful and warlike of all the Highland clans, and as lords of the Isles played an important part in the history of Scotland.

In the 14th and 15th centuries they came over in large numbers, where they became famous as leaders of gallowglasses, heavy armed soldiers. They formed a military clan under their own chiefs, often of high rank, and in reward for their services obtained grants of land in different parts of the country.

The Giant's Causeway at twilight with wet hexagonal basalt columns stretching to the sea and long exposure blurred waves
The Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim

The McDonald counties, photographed

Antrim

The Antrim coast road runs about 25 miles between the cliffs and the sea, with nine glens coming down to it. The rock is basalt, the same flow that formed the Giant's Causeway. Scotland is 12 miles off at the narrowest point and visible on a clear day.

The iconic Dark Hedges beech tree tunnel near Armoy in County Antrim with intertwined branches forming a brooding canopyThe Dark Hedges, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Long exposure of Pan's Rock with its footbridge at dawn on the Antrim Causeway Coast, silky water and blurred clouds, Rathlin Island on the horizonPan's Rock, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Sunrise over Colliery Bay with Fair Head cliffs and mountains, Co. Antrim, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxColliery Bay & Fair Head, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Dunluce Castle on coastal cliffs with long exposure sea, Co. Antrim, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxDunluce Castle, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim

Dublin

Dublin is a county as well as a city. The bay has Howth at the north end and Killiney Hill at the south, the Muglins are a pair of rocks off Dalkey, and the Dublin Mountains start about half an hour from the city centre.

Moonlight reflecting on the sea near the Muglins lighthouse off Dalkey Island, Dublin, with the Kish light on the horizonThe Muglins by Moonlight II Co. Dublin Long exposure panoramic view of the White Rock swimming platform at Killiney Bay, Dublin, floating in misty high-tide watersThe White Rock, Killiney Bay, Co. Dublin Co. Dublin Heron fishing at dawn on the Dublin coast — fine art wildlife photograph by Peter CoxHeron, Co. Dublin Co. Dublin

Wexford

Wexford gets more sunshine than anywhere else in Ireland. Hook Head lighthouse has been working since the thirteenth century, which makes it one of the oldest in the world. The beaches on that coast, Curracloe and Rosslare among them, run for miles and are mostly empty.

Hook Lighthouse beam reflecting across calm waters at dusk, Co. Wexford — fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxHook Lighthouse at Dusk, Wexford Co. Wexford Black and white panoramic of Hook Head lighthouse and wild sea under brooding skies, Co. Wexford — fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxHook Head, Co. Wexford Co. Wexford Moonrise, Tramore, Co. WexfordMoonrise, Tramore, Co. Wexford Co. Wexford Long exposure of carnival Ferris wheel at night on the coast, Tramore, Co. Wexford, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxCarnival, Tramore, Co. Wexford Co. Wexford

All Antrim prints · All Dublin prints · All Wexford prints

Notable bearers

Arthur B. McDonald (born 1943), university teacher, physicist, and astrophysicist.

Christopher McDonald (born 1955), actor.

Mary Lou McDonald (born 1969), politician.

Audra McDonald (born 1970), actor, singer, and musician.

Country Joe McDonald (1942-2026), singer, musician, and composer.

About this page

The counties on this page are where the name was thickest on the ground in Ireland a century and a half ago, not a claim about any one family. Names moved around inside the country as much as they left it. The photographs are mine, made in the counties named.

More Irish surnames: Williams · Davis · Edwards · Cooper · Kelly · Cox · Brooks · Wood · James · Price · Butler · Jordan

How common the name was

In 1890, 191 births were registered under McDonald in Ireland, most of them in Antrim, Carlow, Cavan, Dublin, and Wexford.

Leinster 89
Ulster 88
Munster 10
Connacht 4
Ireland 191

Carlow and Cavan are the ones I haven't worked in.