Scottish surname
Son of Domhnall
Clan or community name
MacDonald (Mac Dhòmhnaill) means 'son of Domhnall', a Gaelic personal name meaning 'world-ruler'. The MacDonalds are one of the largest and most widespread Highland clans, claiming descent from Domhnall, grandson of the 12th-century warlord Somerled. They held extensive lands in the western Highlands and Islands and for a time claimed the Lordship of the Isles.
The surname is extremely common in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora. Variants include McDonald and Macdonald. The clan’s history is central to the story of the Scottish Highlands.
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Son of Domhnall. Domhnall (Donald) combines Gaelic elements usually glossed as "world ruler".
MacDonald is a Scottish-origin surname. Popularity varies widely by country and region, and the same surname can be common in one place and rare in another.
Yes. Surnames, especially occupational and descriptive ones like this, were often adopted independently by many unrelated families who happened to share a trade, appearance, or location.
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