Donaldson surname meaning

Donaldson is a Scottish patronymic meaning “son of Donald.” Donald is the English form of Gaelic Domhnall, a personal name usually read as “world-mighty” or “world ruler.” In many families Donaldson is the English -son equivalent of Gaelic Mac Dhomhnaill—the same root that yields McDonald and MacDonald, already in this catalog. Donalson and Donelson are spelling variants. The name marks descent from a man called Donald rather than a place or trade. Parent’s name is the clear type, and that reading is high confidence.