Please Help...Would McDonald be?

Question

Scottish or Irish?

Answer 1

Google it.

Answer 2

Polish.  

Answer 3

As a descendant of McDonalds who immigrated to Moore County, North Carolina, and from North Carolina to Alabama and Texas, I can tell you that in my case, at least, McDonald is definitely Scottish.   I would suppose that each individual with McDonald ancestors would have to trace his or her family back to their country of origin.

According to the link below, a lot of clans are affiliated with Clan Donald.  The Scottish McDonalds, however, were originally Macdonalds.

Answer 4

Well, if it's not Google or Polish it must be Scottish.

Answer 5

I know quite a few Scottish McDonald's but no Irish ones

Answer 6

Mcdonald would be Scottish just like Macdonald

Answer 7

Scottish

Answer 8

I think it McDonald is scottish

Answer 9

MacDonald - McDonald - M'Donald . Scottish my lovely ! Irish McDonnels inhabited the Antrim Glens and came across the narrow chanell to help the great Montrose and their Scottish cousins inflict a ghastly thumping on the Covenanters at Tibbermore . Strange that the Lowland Presbyterians are flocking back to Ireland this August! No - not really . Sorry - it is a complex situation . Tell you more later .

Answer 10

I found this for you,

Surname: Mcdonald

This is probably the most famous of Scottish clan surnames. Recorded in the modern spellings of MacDonald and McDonald, the derivation is from the pre 10th century Gaelic name Mac Dhomhnuill. This is a compound which translates literally as "The son of the world ruler". Whilst this may not have been the actual meaning fifteen hundred years ago, it is perhaps not entirely coincidental that one branch of the clan are known as "The Lords of the Isles". This was an assumed title, which much resented by early Scottish kings, King David 11 in the year 1369 going to considerable, if unsuccessful lengths, to try to dispossess them by force. In the Gaelic the name was pronounced Mak Oonil, and attempts at pronunciation have rendered a variety of spellings including; MakChonehill (1479), McConile (1570), Mak Donald (1571) and M'Oneill (1576). Early church registers in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh record the christening of John, the son of Alane McDonald, on July 4th 1672, and the marriage of John McDonald and Grissell McFuffan on July 29th 1687. Among the many famous nameholders are Flora MacDonald (1722 - 1790), the rescuer of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745, and Sir John MacDonald, (1815 - 1891), the first premier of the Dominion of Canada. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Therthelnac MakDonenalde. This was dated 1251, when he was a charter witness at Lesmore, during the reign of King Alexander 111 of Scotland, 1249 - 1286. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

hope this helps.

Answer 11

McDonald is Scottish and dates back to when the Vikings invaded the Western Scottish Highland areas. Sommerled (Viking) Married an original tribal inhabitant of the area. The MacDonalds, or McDonalds are known as one of the indigenous people of Scotland. There are several clans that have descended from Donald son of Somerled, Hence the name McDonald. The Mc or Mac in Scottish names means "son of", so son of Donald is MacDonald or McDonald.

One McDonald clan were known as the "lords of the isles" and ruled the western islands and parts of the western Highlands until the English planned to kill them all off around 1000 years ago, which was done by the Campbell clan in cohorts with the British crown. Only 23 of the McDonalds survived this particular attempt at exterminating this powerful Scottish Caln.