Surname Donaldson - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Unveiling my Root History: A Personal Journey with iGENEA and the Donaldson Surname
Venturing with iGENEA to decode my family roots and understand my surname 'Donaldson' was an illuminating journey. The DNA analysis traced my ancestry back to Scotland and unveiled the deep history linked with my name. This exploration instilled a feeling of belonging while making me appreciate the history of our ancestors and how names carry a piece of that incredible journey.
I. Donaldson
read moreDonaldson: What does the surname Donaldson mean?
The surname Donaldson is of Scottish origin and is a patronymic form of the personal name Donald. The name literally means "son of Donald." The name Donald itself is derived from the Gaelic name Domhnall, which means "ruler of the world". It originates from the elements "dumno", meaning world, and "val", meaning rule. Hence, the surname represents descendants or kin of a person named Donald. Scotland, and in broader terms, the Celtic regions of the British Isles, typically used this patronymic naming system before the adoption of static surnames. It's important to note that someone with the surname Donaldson may not necessarily have a direct lineage to a person named Donald due to other name-changing factors such as immigration and anglicization.
Order DNA origin analysisDonaldson: Where does the name Donaldson come from?
The surname Donaldson is of Scottish origin and it means "son of Donald". It is an Anglicised form of the original Gaelic name "MacDomhnall", where "Mac" means son of, "Domh" is short for "world", and "nall" denotes "might" or "rule". Thus, Donaldson could literally translate to "the son of the ruler of the world". The surname has roots in the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada, but rapidly spread across Scotland and into Northern England.
Today, the surname Donaldson is common in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, it is most common in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Carolina. In Scotland, it is prevalent in Aberdeenshire and Perthshire. Despite its Scottish origins, this surname is more common in the United States today than in Scotland, largely due to historical migration patterns.
Variations of the surname Donaldson
The surname Donaldson has several variants and spellings which are of the same origin. The name Donaldson is of Scottish origin and it is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Donald. It means 'son of Donald'.
Some of the variants of the surname Donaldson are Donalson, Donolson, Donelson, and Donnelson. Different spellings of the same surname can also be seen as Donylson, Donnaldson, and Dondaldson.
The reason for these various spellings is mainly due to the fact that before the last few hundred years, spelling was not standardized, and so one name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. Scribes would simply write surnames the way they sounded, which resulted in a person’s name being inconsistently recorded.
MacDonald or McDonald, meaning "son of Donald", is also of the same origin and is one of the most common surnames in Scotland. Other similar Scottish patronymic surnames include Donnachie and MacDonagh, both meaning "son of Duncan", and Donnellan (or O'Donnellan in the Irish form), meaning "descendant of Donnell". However, although they represent the same naming tradition, they are not variants of Donaldson per se.
Famous people with the name Donaldson
- Sam Donaldson: An American reporter and news anchor, best known for his work at ABC News.
- Louise Donaldson, Baroness Donaldson of Lymington: The first female Lord Mayor of London.
- Josh Donaldson: A professional baseball player in the MLB, who currently plays for the Minnesota Twins.
- Stephen Donaldson: An American science fiction and fantasy author, most known for his series "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant."
- Bobby Donaldson: A well-known American jazz drummer.
- Lesley Donaldson: A Canadian actress, famous for her roles in horror and science fiction films.
- James Donaldson: A retired NBA player and All-Star center, who also played in Europe.
- Walter Donaldson: An American pianist and composer, particularly known for his popular songs in the early 20th century.
- Eric Donaldson: A Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter, known for winning the Jamaican Festival Song Competition multiple times.
- Stuart Donaldson: An Australian politician and the first Premier of New South Wales.
- Jessie Rose Donaldson: An English actress, known for her role on the TV show "EastEnders."
- David Donaldson: A Scottish portrait painter, who was also the official artist to the Queen in Scotland.
- Emily Donaldson: The wife of late former Canadian prime minister John. A. Macdonald.