Surname Donelson - Meaning and Origin
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Donelson: What does the surname Donelson mean?
The last name Donelson is derived from the Gaelic words 'donn' which means 'brown', and 'dail', meaning a meadow. This surname is likely of Scottish or Irish origin, and denotes a person of brown hair who was born in or near a meadow.
The Donelson family name came into use in the Middle Ages, and is believed to have first appeared in Scotland. It is a variant of the surname Donaldson, which is another variation of the original Gaelic form. The Donelson name likely emerged as a result of the mispronunciation of the original name.
Today, the Donelsons are a large family spread across the globe, with people having origins from all over the world. The descendants of this family are known for their traditional values and strong sense of pride. They are a proud, hard-working clan who are fiercely loyal and devoted to their values.
The Donelsons have made an impact in history, with some famous family members being general and statesman, George Donelson, Rebecca Donelson, educator Carl V. Donelson, and Andrew Donelson, private secretary to the President of the United States.
In summary, the last name Donelson is derived from the Gaelic words 'donn' and 'dail'. It likely originated in Scotland, and is now a large family with descendants from all over the world. Famous family members have made an impact in history, and they are known for their traditional values, strong sense of pride, and hard work ethic.
Order DNA origin analysisDonelson: Where does the name Donelson come from?
The last name Donelson is a fairly common name today, particularly in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are currently around 10,000 people with the last name Donelson living in the United States.
Texas is the state with the highest concentration of Donelsons with around 1,500 individuals. It is followed by Tennessee with around 1,000 and North Carolina with roughly 850. These numbers don’t include people with the surname variations such as Donaldson, Donaltso, or Donalson.
This surname is particularly popular in the Southern states where it experienced a strong surge of popularity during the Civil War era due to the prominent Donelson family's prominent roles in the Confederate Army.
The Donelson family originated in Ireland. During the 1800s, many Irish immigrants began to migrate to the United States; some of which adopted the last name Donelson upon arrival.
Today, the Donelson surname can be found in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, and Australia. Despite its origins, the name has mostly taken on an American flavor today.
Variations of the surname Donelson
The surname Donelson has many different variants and spellings, which can vary by country and region. It is believed to be of both English and Irish origin and can be spelled in a variety of different ways. Some of the most common variations are Donnelon, Donlan, Donnellan, Donnelly, Donley, Donellan, Donlan, Donnalls, Donnelley, Donally, and Donelly.
In England, the surname is believed to have originated in Devon or Yorkshire, where it is thought to have been derived from the Old English personal name Dunneca or Dunnleath. This makes Donelson an Anglised form of the Gaelic O'Donnghaile, which is thought to have been the original Irish spelling.
In Ireland, it is believed that the surname is rooted in Clan Eoghan Mor which was a major force in the eleventh century around County Antrim. The surnames O'Donnghaile, O'Donnell, McDonnagh, and Donoghue are all thought to be descendants of this clan.
Donelson is also found in Scotland, where it is believed to be of Scottish-Gaelic origin and may have arrived from Ireland. The Scottish spelling of the surname is often Donnelly.
There are a number of other rare variants of this surname, such as Donilson, which is of German origin, and Donulasun, which is of French origin. Regardless of the origin or spelling, it is clear that Donelson is an ancient and well-known surname, with many different variants, spellings, and surnames all deriving from the same root origin.
Famous people with the name Donelson
- John Donelson: Father of US President Andrew Jackson and a pioneer in Nashville, TN.
- Martha Donelson: wife of John Donelson, of Scottish and Cherokee descent.
- Andrew Donelson: Son of John and Martha Donelson, served as his father-in-law Andrew Jackson's private secretary from 1841 to 1845.
- Rachel Donelson Jackson: Daughter of John and Martha Donelson, wife of Andrew Jackson.
- Robert Donelson: Son of John and Martha Donelson, Co-founder of the first Masonic Lodge in Nashville, TN.
- Carter Donelson: Son of Robert Donelson, Tennessee politician and lawyer, and ninth President pro tempore of the United States Senate.
- Edward Donelson: Son of Robert Donelson, Confederate Major general during the American Civil War.
- Daniel Smith Donelson: Son of Robert Donelson, Major in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
- Sarah Donelson: Daughter of Robert Donelson and wife of Isaac Guion of Mississippi.
- Josiah Donelson: Son of Robert Donelson, U.S. Representative from Tennessee.
- Rob Donelson: American football running back with the Tennessee Titans.
- Brad Donelson: American boxing trainer.
- Dean Donelson: American song writer and producer.
- Rose Donelson: English actress known for her work in television and film.
- Danny Donelson: American jazz vibraphone player and composer.
- Adam Donelson: Australian drummer and music producer.
- Sam Donelson: American actor, known for his work on the television show "Welcome to Paradise".
- Fred Donelson: American politician and lobbyist.
- Taylor Donelson: American singer, songwriter, and actress.
- Jodi Donelson: American actress and model.