McDaniel/McDonald Genealogy.

Researching the ancestors of Benjamin McDaniel (McDonald) and Susannah (Hughes) of Montgomery County Virginia. They were married 23 June 1799 in Louisa County VA. They both lived in Louisa County from at least 1794 to 1803 and were likly born there. Parents of Benjamin are probably John and Sally McDaniel (McDonald) of Louisa County. More

McDaniel, another form of McDonald, mainly found in the American South, where the two names were almost completely interchangable.

Derived from: Gaelic MacDohomhnuill - "son of Donald (world ruler)". Angus Mor MacDonald, son of Donald MacRanald MacSomerled, was first of the name. Originally the title of the Lords of the Isles, in the 16th cen. it started being used as a last name by those who could claim to be a "son of Donald". The MacDonnell & MacConnell spellings are mostly found in Clan Donald SOUTH, while MacDonell is mainly GLENGARRY, but more anciently KEPPOCH. The MacDaniel derivations are not territorial but are simply due to "free" spelling by clerks, census takers, ships captains, etc., particularly in the American South. There is absolutely no difference in Mac, Mc or even M', and any of these spellings, even with a big D or a little d, may be found today in any of our main branches.

Clan Donald is one of the oldest, and probably the largest and most famous of all the Highland clans. Its Celtic heritage goes back into antiquity, beyond the 6th Century AD, to the great clans in what today is Ireland, Conn of the 100 Battles, Cairfre Raida, founder of Dal Raida in Antrim, Eire, and Colla Uathais. Our Viking heritage goes back to Ingiald "Ill-Ruler" and Olaf "Tree-Hewer" in 7th Century Sweden and Norway. All of these traditional blood lines came together in the 12th Century Somerled MacGillebride MacGilladamnan, the historic founder of Clann Domhnaill. Our ancestors were regarded as the heads of the ancient race of Conn, and the lineal heirs of the kings of the Dalriadic Scots.