Map of Ireland showing where the McConnell arms are recorded
The McConnell arms were recorded in Dublin, c. 1645.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the McConnell arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dublin.
Origin & History of the McConnell Family in Ireland
The surname McConnell is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Dhomhnuill, which translates to "son of Donald." Historically, the name is deeply rooted in the Gaelic traditions of Scotland and Ireland, where families often identified themselves by their paternal lineage. By the middle of the seventeenth century, members of the McConnell family were well-established in Dublin. Their presence in the city by 1645 suggests they were part of the complex social and political shifts occurring in Ireland during that era. During this period, families with this name were often involved in the trade and administrative life of the capital, reflecting the broader migration patterns between the Scottish Highlands and the Irish provinces. As the name spread, it became a common fixture in Irish records, marking the family as a long-standing part of the urban landscape in Dublin.
McConnell Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac Domhnaill
Son of the world ruler or son of Donal.
This name
McConnellA patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic name Donal, signifying a descendant of a powerful leader.
also spelled
McConill
Related arms
Connellsame arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey, A.D. 1654–1656, County of Dublin
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stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
