What We Know About the O'Donel Surname

The last name O'Donel is another written form of O'Donnell, a well-known Irish family name. Read literally, O'Donel points to “Descendant of Domhnall ("world mighty")”.

A variant of O'Donnell

Records show O'Donel as one of the forms O'Donnell took over time. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. You may also find the name written O'Donell, O'Donnel and Donnell.

Names that sound alike, such as O'Donnelly, are easily confused in old records.

O'Donel coat of arms

Arms linked to O'Donnell and its spellings were granted to individual families; our heraldry team traces which line they belonged to.

Research your O'Donel family history with a full surname report and painted coat of arms.