I would like to know where the name Donaldson originated from?

Question

My paternal grandfather was part Cherokee Indian. I am trying to research my fathers family history.

Answer 1

From the E-I-E-I-O department: According to Ancestry.com,  " 'Donaldson' is a Scottish patronymic from Donald, often representing a reduced Anglicized form of the Gaelic 'MacDhomhnaill' (McDonald)."  Thus, "Donaldson" is a sept or branch of the Macdonald clan as are a lot of other Highland Scottish families.

Of course, the Eastern band of Cherokees have lived for centuries in North Carolina, and a lot of Highland Scots immigrated there shortly before the American Revolution.  Accordingly, you'll need to trace your Scottish/Cherokee connections generation by generation.