Surname Mac Daniel - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Daniel: What does the surname Mac Daniel mean?
The surname Mac Daniel is of Scottish origin, and comes from the Gaelic term ‘Mac Dhomhuill’ which means ‘son of Donald’. The prefix ‘Mac’ is a Gaelic tribal name indicating a descent from a specific ancestor, usually the name of their father. The surname is thought to be derived from the personal name ‘Donald’, an Anglicization of the Gaelic ‘Doamhnuill’, meaning “world-mighty”.
Donald is a very old name, first being recorded in the 10th century in Irish folklore as a magical warrior-deity. Many varieties of the name have been recorded throughout history, coming from various Celtic dialects and European languages such as Spanish, Italian and French.
The Mac Daniel surname is very common in Scotland, and its bearers can be found throughout the world in areas with high populations of Scots, Irish, and other people of Celtic descent. In the United States and Canada, the name was among the twenty most common surnames in the late twentieth century. Mac Daniel is also very common in England and Wales, where it ranks among the top 100 surnames in each country.
The surname MacDaniel is a proud reminder of Scotland and its Celtic heritage, and is a reminder of the leverage and strength the first Gaelic settlers brought to early Scotland when they arrived centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Daniel: Where does the name Mac Daniel come from?
The last name Mac Daniel is most commonly found in the United States. It is a Scottish name that was brought to the United States in the 1700's with Scottish immigration.
The Mac in the name comes from the Scottish Gaelic word Mac, which means "son of." The origin of the Daniel part of the name is believed to come from the Hebrew name Dan'el meaning "God is my judge".
In the United States, the Mac Daniel name is most prevalent in the East Coast states, particularly in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. The surname is also commonly found in North Carolina, where it has roots in the Scottish highlands.
Today, most of the people with the Mac Daniel surname in the United States are descendants of the early settlers, as well as those who immigrated more recently. The name is still seen commonly today throughout the United States, especially in areas of the country with large Scottish populations.
Variations of the surname Mac Daniel
Mac Daniel is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Dáibheil, which is an anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Dháibhéid. It is derived from the Gaelic word "dáibhéid" which means "melancholy" or "sorrowful". The surname Mac Daniel is also spelled as MacDaniels, MacDaniel, McDonald, McDaniels, and McDanielson.
The MacDaniels family descended from the famous Dál gCais clan who were located in County Clare and the Limerick area of Ireland. The clan was lead by Cormac Mac Carthaigh, who was the High King of Ireland from 1138 until 1141.
The name MacDaniel is anglicized from the Irish of Dáibheal, which appears to derive in the personal name Dámhèil. This Gaelic name, in turn, has ties to an old Gaelic word-name derived from da-mhéodhal,meaning "melancholy". An earlier form of the name, "Dámheil", appears in the annals of early Irish literature and poetry.
In English, the surname can sometimes be spelled as 'McDaniel,' 'Mc Daniel,' or Daniels'. It is quite common in Irish-American, Scottish, and English families. Variations of the name have been found in Scotland (MacDuanild) and in County Kerry, Ireland (Mc ther Daniel). It is a popular surname in the United States, especially in the southern states.
The surname McDaniel is derived from an old Gaelic word, and its original spelling has been lost to the mutations of time. Although today we know it as 'MacDaniel', the original Gaelic form is still preserved in the name, if one looks closely enough.
Famous people with the name Mac Daniel
- James MacDaniel: is an American television actor known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Griggs on 30 Rock, Detective Techowski on Orange Is the New Black, and Officer Lou on Hung.
- Logan MacDaniel: Is a Canadian Voice Actor and Voice Over Artist.
- Rita MacDaniel: Is an award winning Canadian author known for her novels Blood Atonement and Aria of the Sky.
- Daniel MacDaniel: Is a professional session guitarist, songwriter and producer known for his work with projects including, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner, Scorpions, Carlos Santana, Elton John and more.
- Don MacDaniel: Was an American college basketball coach, who was the head men's basketball coach at the University of Wyoming in the late 1970s.
- Roger MacDaniel: Was a Canadian middle distance runner who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics and 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Angelica MacDaniel: Is an American actress and model, known for her roles in the feature films Warhouse 13 and Miami Vice.
- Hugh MacDaniel: Was an American politician who served two terms as mayor of Ashburn, Georgia, from 1982 to 1990.
- Jennifer MacDaniel: Is an American film and television actress known for her roles in The Confession and Highway.
- Jeffery MacDaniel: Is an American author known for his 2009 novel A Children’s Bible and the 2020 collection of short stories Antiquities.