MacDonald

MacDonald is a surname of Scottish origin, an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Dhòmhnaill, meaning "son of Dòmhnall" (Donald). The given name Donald itself is derived from the Gaelic Domhnall, often interpreted as "world-might" or "ruler of the world." The name is closely associated with Clan Donald, one of the largest Highland clans, historically centered in the western Highlands and on the islands. The clan's leaders, the MacDonalds, held sway as Lords of the Isles for several centuries and developed a number of influential branches, including MacDonald of Glengarry, Sleat, Keppoch, and Morar. Over time the surname diversified into many lineages as people with MacDhòmhnaill emigrated to Ireland, England, and across the Atlantic.

Today, MacDonald appears throughout Scotland, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, reflecting patterns of Scottish diaspora. It is commonly spelled in several variants, notably MacDonald, McDonald, MacDonnell, MacDonell, McDonnell, and related forms, with regional preferences. Notable individuals bearing the surname span politics, academia, sports, and the arts, among them descendants of the Clan Donald and unrelated families who adopted similar spellings. The name is also encountered in place names and historical documents connected with the Scottish Highlands.