McConnell
A Gaelic surname usually understood as “son of Conall,” a very old personal name meaning roughly “strong wolf” or “mighty hound.”
The #872 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 7,766 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McConnell is an anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Conaill / Mac Conghaill-type surnames, built on mac, “son of,” plus a personal name related to Conall. The name Conall is commonly taken to mean something like “strong wolf” or “mighty hound,” though exact nuances vary by the old Gaelic forms behind the surname. In older sources the spelling could vary widely, including MacConnell and related forms.
History
The surname is found in both Ireland and Scotland, where it developed in Gaelic-speaking families and was later reshaped in English spelling. Historical writers sometimes grouped McConnell with other Mac/Mc surnames that had similar pronunciation but different spellings, which can make old records tricky to interpret. In Scotland, it is also associated in some traditions with the Macdonald sphere of influence, reflecting local spelling habits rather than a separate origin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname dictionaries note that MacConnell could be used as a spelling variant in some Scottish contexts where pronunciation mattered more than strict spelling.
From the historical record
“Koen. ttlAC CorhJAill, MacCole. triAC CotiAill, MacConnell. triAC CoriAill 615, MacConnell- ogue, Conlogue. rriAC CoTiAllcA, MacAnalty, Mac”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames