The Clan

Clan Donald is one of the great historic Highland clans, with roots stretching across the western Highlands and Islands of Scotland and deep connections to the Norse-Gaelic world.

Clan Donald USA brings together descendants and associated families throughout the United States to preserve and celebrate the heritage, history, genealogy, culture, and traditions of Clann Domhnaill.

Members connect through Highland Games, festivals, genealogy and DNA research, educational programs, workshops, publications, gatherings, and cultural activities. Clan Donald USA also supports Scottish heritage through scholarships and charitable initiatives connected to music, history, education, and preservation.

Whether your family name is MacDonald, McDonald, MacDonell, McDonnell, Donald, Donaldson, or one of the many related names and branches, Clan Donald welcomes you to discover your connection to this far-reaching Highland family.

Clan Names

Clan Surnames / Family Names Abrach, Addison, Alcock, Alexander, Allan, Allen, Allanson, Allison, Ambrose, Anderson, Arnot, Balloch, Baxter, Beaton, Bethune, Bisset, Blue, Bowie, Boyd, Boyle, Bradley, Brady, Brodie, Brown, Budge, Buie, Bulloch, Burke, Cain, Calbraith, Callan, Cambridge, Canochson, Carmichael, Carroon, Chambers, Clark, Clerk, Cochran, Colson, Cone, Conlay, Conn, Connell, Connely, Cook, Coppock, Cowan, Cromb, Crum, Cunningham, Currie, Curry, Daniel, Darroch, Dennison, Donald, Donaldson, Donnell, Drain, Dunsleve, Ellison, Fletcher, Forrestor, Foster, Galbraith, Galt, Gilbride, Gill, Gililan, Gillis, Glashan, Glass, Godfrey, Gowan, Gray, Greenfield, Hattan, Hawthorn, Henderson, Hendry, Henry, Herron, Hewison, Houston, Howe, Howie, Howison, Huchon, Huchonson, Hudson, Hughson, Huie, Huston, Hutchin, Hutchinson, Hutchison, Isaacson, Isles, Jeffrey, Johnson, Kane, Kain, Kean, Keegan, Kelly, Kendrick, Kennedy, Kerigan, Kessock, Killough, Kinnel, Lang, Leach, Livingston, Lynn, Magee, Magill, Mann, Manntach, Marcus, Marcusson, Martin, May, Mayes, Mays, Michael, Michaelson, Michie, Michison, Milloy, Mitchell, Mitchelson, Monk, Murchie, Murchison, Murdoch, Murdochson, Murphy, O’Brennan, O’Brolachain, O’Cahan, O’Docharty, O’Drain, O’Hanley, O’Kane, O’Kerigan, O’Loynachan, O’May, O’Shannaig, O’Shannon, O’Sheehy, Padon, Park, Patton, Philip, Philipson, Philpot, Pittullich, Polson, Purcell, Queen, Quin, Rainey, Ranald, Ranaldson, Rankin, Rennie, Reoch, Revie, Reynolds, Ronald, Ronaldson, Rorieson, Rory, Samuel, Sanders, Sanderson, Shannon, Sharp, Shaw, Sheehy, Smith, Sorleyson, Sporran, Stalker, Sweeney, Taylor, Train, Turner, Whan, Whannell, Whallan, Wilkie, Wilkinson, Wright. The Mac's MacAichan, MacAlasdair, MacAlexander, MacAllister, MacAllan, MacAlonie, MacAmbrose, MacArthur, MacBaxter, MacBeth, MacBodach, MacBrayne, MacBrehon, MacBreif, MacBretine, MacBride, MacBryde, MacBrion, MacBrolachan, MacBurie, MacCaffer, MacCaig, MacCain, MacCairlie, MacCaldret, MacCaleb, MacCall, MacCallan, MacCallister, MacCalman, MacCambridge, MacCannel, MacCarlich, MacCarrol, MacCarron, MacCarter, MacCash, MacCathail, MacCavor, MacCellach, MacChanney, MacCleary, MacCleireach, MacClellan, MacCluskey, MacCochran, MacCodrum, MacCohenane, MacColl, MacConacher, MacConlea, MacConn, MacConnell, MacCook, MacCorie, MacCormick, MacCorran, MacCosham, MacCotter, MacCowan, MacCoy, MacCrain, MacCrindle, MacCrory, MacCrum, MacCuaig, MacCuish, MacCuithein, MacCulloch, MacCumbray, MacCurry, MacCutchen, MacCuthan, MacDaniel, MacDonald, MacDonell, MacDonleavy, MacDonnell, MacDougall, MacEachan, MacEachern, MacEanruig, MacElfrish, MacElheran, MacEntire, MacEoghain, MacEvinney, MacGachen, MacGeachie, MacGee, MacGilbride, MacGill, MacGillanders, MacGillechallum, MacGillecongall, MacGillelan, MacGillespie, MacGillies, MacGillifedder, MacGillivantic, MacGilliver, MacGillivoir, MacGilp, MacGinnis, MacGlashan, MacGlasrich, MacGorrie, MacGowan, MacGugan, MacHatton, MacHendrie, MacHenry, MacHouston, MacHugh, MacHutchen, MacIan, MacIlaheiney, MacIlbra, MacIlbride, MacIlchomhghain, MacIchrum, MacIldonie, MacIldowie, MacIlfersane, MacIlhatton, MacIlheron, MacIllemartine, MacIllergan, MacIllibuie, MacIllighlais, MacIllguirine, MacIllimhicall, MacIlmaluag, MacIlneive, MacIlraith, MacIlraich, MacIlvenna, MacIlvie, MacIlvoir, MacIlvrenenich, MacInlay, MacIndayn, MacIndeor, MacInleich, MacInleister, MacInnes, MacInstocker, MacIntaylour, MacInturner, MacIntyre, MacIsaac, MacIver. MacKain, MacKay, MacKeachan, MacKean, MacKechern, MacKechnie, MacKee, MacKeithan, MacKelloch, MacKelly, MacKenabry, MacKendrick, MacKerracher, MacKerral, MacKerras, MacKerron, MacKessock, MacKichan, MacKeigan, MacKiergan, MacKillop, MacKinnel, MacKiver, MacLae, MacLafferty, MacLairish, MacLardy, MacLarty, MacLaverty, MacLeister, MacLellan, MacLergan, MacLerich, MacLinlagan, MacLiver, MacLucas, MacLugas, MacLulich, MacLure, MacLuskie, MacManechin, MacMarcus, MacMarquis, MacMath, MacMay, MacMhuirich, MacMichael, MacMichan, MacMichie, MacMitchell, MacMoris, MacMurchie, MacMurdo, MacMurdoch, MacMurphy, MacMurrich, MacNakaird, MacOnill, MacOshen, MacOshenag, MacOwen, MacPhail, MacPhilip, MacQueen, MacQuilken, MacQuilkan, MacQuillan, MacQuilly, MacQuistan, MacRanald, MacRanie, MacRankin, MacRennie, MacReynold, MacRory, MacRuairi, MacRury, MacScilling, MacShannon, MacSheehy, MacSherry, MacSorley, MacSporran, MacStaker, MacStalker, MacSwain, MacSwan, MacSween, MacSweeney, MacTrein, MacUisdean, MacVanish, MacVannan, MacVarish, MacVey, MacVicar, MacVurrich, MacWalrick, MacWarish, MacWhan, MacWhannel, MacWhellan, MacWhiston, MacWhithee, MacWilkin, MacWillie, MacWurie. Clan Donald encompasses hundreds of historically associated family names and spelling variations. In many cases, geographic origin is important in determining a Clan Donald connection.

History of Clan Donald

Clan Donald traces its traditional descent from Dòmhnall Mac Raghnuill, whose family belonged to the powerful Norse-Gaelic dynasty descended from Somerled. Somerled ruled much of the western seaboard and Hebrides during the twelfth century, and his descendants became some of the most influential lords in medieval Scotland.

Through the Lords of the Isles, Clan Donald came to control extensive territories across the Hebrides and western Highlands. The clan’s chiefs played major roles in the Wars of Scottish Independence, with Aonghus Óg supporting Robert the Bruce and Clan Donald fighting at Bannockburn in 1314.

In the fifteenth century, the MacDonald Lords of the Isles became one of the most powerful forces in Scotland, holding the Earldom of Ross and commanding influence across the Highlands. Their strength eventually brought them into conflict with the Scottish Crown, and the Lordship of the Isles was finally forfeited in 1493. Afterward, the great Clan Donald family developed into numerous branches across Skye, Islay, Glengarry, Keppoch, Clanranald, Glencoe, Antrim, and other regions.

Clan Donald remained deeply involved in later Scottish history, including the Civil Wars and Jacobite risings. Branches of the clan fought at battles including Inverlochy, Sheriffmuir, Prestonpans, Falkirk, and Culloden.

Today, Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, 8th Lord Macdonald, serves as High Chief of Clan Donald. Clan Donald USA continues the clan’s traditions through heritage education, genealogy, gatherings, cultural programs, and support for Scottish history and the arts.