An Irish surname, O’Donnell comes from a Gaelic term ‘domhnall’ which means a world ruler. The spelling variations for O’Donnell include O’Donall, O’Donie and O’Donald. In Ireland the very common surname of O’Donnell is very popular in Ulster, around the Donegal area. The O’Donnell families originated in the Tyrconnell region and has a history of a thousand years. By the 1800s many O’Donnell families resettled in Canada, Australia, England and the United States. In northern England most with the O’Donnell surname reside. The highest numbers are found in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Durham and then south in the city of London. In Scotland the southern regions have the great O’Donnell population. Most live in Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Stirlingshire and Midlothian. Within the United States the O’Donnell family name orientated in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and spread to most states by the mid-to-late1800s. Famous: John Francis O’Donnell (19th century poet and journalist from Ireland), Frank Hugh O’Donnell (19th century writer and public speaker from Ireland), Rosie O’Donnell (movie film and television comic and actress), Patrick O’Donnell (youngest bishop at age 24 and one of the founders of the National University of Ireland), Phil O’Donnell (professional footballer from Scotland), Daniel O’Donnell (singer), Chris O’Donnell (movie film actor), Heather O’Donnell (concert pianist), Terence O’Donnell (nonfiction writer), Calvagh O’Donnell (16th century O’Donnell Chieftain and Lord of Tyrconnell), Neil O’Donnell (professional football player) and Denis O’Donnell (founder of Lee Strand Creamery in Ireland and introduced the use of pasteurization of milk).