Patrick McDonnell - b C.1818 - Father John, Mother Margaret

You don’t say what denomination, so I’ll assume RC. I have searched the on-line records for a Patrick McDonnell birth in Antrim around 1818 but did not find any. A snag is that many RC parishes don’t have any records for the early 1800s. Many only start in the 1820s or later. Without some idea of where in Antrim Patrick lived it’s impossible to search further. DNA testing might be the only way of matching with someone still in Ireland today.

I've been researching the American Antrims, and find that my Chester Antrim lineage goes back to James MacDonald (aka McDonnell, etc.) from Clan McDonald (the largest clan in Ireland if I'm not mistaken). They captured a castle which is in ruins there in Co. Antrim. Their name comes from the County, not surname. "Last name: MacDonald. Clan MacDonald is the most famous and numerous of the long line of Scottish Highland Clans. The surname is now recorded in every part of the world, the origination of the chiefs being from one 'Donald of the Isles' in the 10th century a.d. The derivation is from the Gaelic 'Mac Dhomhnuill', translating as 'The son of Donald'. It is said that the personal name 'Donald' translates as 'world-rule', a meaning which is perhaps not coincidental as the clan have long assumed the unofficial title of 'Lords of the Isles'. This 'assumption' took place in the time of King David II of Scotland in circa 1369 and made the king exceedingly angry, since they also claimed title to all tithes and taxes. He went to considerable, if unsuccessful, lengths to dispossess them! In the Gaelic the name is pronounced 'Mak Oonil', and anglicised attempts at pronunciation have rendered a variety of spellings including Mak Chonehill (1479), McConile (1570), Mak Donald (1571) M'Oneill (1576), as well as the popular MacDonell and MacDonnell, all members of Clan MacDonald. Amongst the many famous MacDonalds are Flora MacDonald (1722-1790), the rescuer of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745, and Sir John MacDonald, the founder and premier of the Dominion of Canada (1815-1891). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Therthelnac MakDonenalde, which was dated circa 1251, a charter witness at Lesmore, Scotland, during the reign of King Alexander III of Scotland, 1249 - 1286. © Copyright: Name Origin Research www.surnamedb.com 1980 - 2014."

I believe my uncle's line goes back into the 1200s. Let me know if you would like to see it. If you are in Ancestry.com, you can follow it starting with susanm1215 trees, select Bobier tree, search for Chester Antrim, clicking on fathers all the way back. Please advise if I can be of more help, or you can help me or correct me.

Susan Meier PhD