A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the McDonnell family of Ireland.
Reg. 5154 · Irish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, MCDONNELL, quarterly, 1st, or, a lion ramp. gu., 2nd, or, a dexter arm issuant from the sinister fess point out of a cloud ppr. in the hand a cross crosslet fitchee erect az., 3rd, ar. a lymphad, sails furled sa., 4th, per fesse az. and vert a dolphin naiant in fess ppr.; 2nd and 3rd, KERR, quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. a sun in splendour or, 2nd, gu. on a chev. ar. three mullets of the field, 3rd, sa. on a chev. betw. three unicorns' heads ar. as many mullets of the field”
AntrimAntrim, c. 1645
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Map of Ireland showing where the McDonnell arms are recorded
The McDonnell arms were recorded in Antrim, c. 1645.
Antrim was north-eastern Irish country settled from Scotland in the seventeenth century. The new landowners took formal grants and had them recorded, so their arms are unusually well documented.
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 McDonnell 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 Antrim.
Origin & History of the McDonnell Family in Ireland
The McDonnell family name has deep roots in the history of County Antrim, where they were well-established as a powerful force by the mid-seventeenth century. The name itself is an anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Domhnaill, which translates to son of Donald. This naming tradition reflects the family’s descent from the powerful Clann Domhnaill, a prominent group with origins in the Scottish Highlands and the Western Isles. By 1645, members of the family were deeply involved in the political and military landscape of Ulster, often acting as key leaders who bridged the cultural gap between Scotland and Ireland. Their influence in Antrim was built upon a long history of maritime trade and regional governance that allowed them to maintain significant control over their lands during a time of great upheaval. As the family settled into life in Northern Ireland, they remained a central part of the local community and continued to play a major role in the shifting power dynamics of the region.
McDonnell Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Domhnall
Derived from the Proto-Celtic elements for world and mighty ruler.
This name
McDonnellRefers to the son of the world-mighty ruler, indicating noble lineage.
also spelled
McDonnal
Related arms
Mac Donnellsimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hill, George. An Historical Account of the MacDonnells of Antrim. 1873
O’Hart, John. Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. 1892
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Antrim Estate Papers
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
