Why are some of my old Irish relatives named with Mc' or O'?

Question

McDonnell , O'Donnell. what does Mc' & O' mean?

apparently this way of naming goes back for many years?

Answer 1

My last name is O'Dell because my family came from the House of Dell.

Morris Dell to be exact.

It is just an extended family name for those of years past who were proud of their family name and wanted to honor them.

Answer 2

Mc is short for "mac", the Irish word for "son". When used in a name it means "son of".  "Ó" is the Irish word for "from", and when used in a name it means "grandson of".

There would be different branches of each family.  You are most likely not related to everyone who has the same surname as you.

Answer 3

The MC'S originate from the Scottish that's why,The O'S are the Irish

Answer 4

Mac (Mc) means son of, so MacDonnell means 'son of Donnell'.   The McDonnells share a common ancestor called Donnell who was probably a chieftan or a king centuries ago.

Answer 5

You have some good answers there - and if you have any ancestors with the Fitz in front of their name it means 'b*****d son of...' tho in those days it wasn't a curse...