Pronunciations

[Wompet]

MacDonnell expects to hear MACK-DOE-nell. etc.

Of my Donnell relatives, most of them pronounce it DON-nell. Then there's the one branch that says it DON-ell. But we don't talk about them.

[SteveB]

Distant cousins DON-nell, have an interesting take on the origins of names. They have no European ancestry that we can find. All originated in Central Africa, and shortly after their sale in the New World, stayed within their ethnic heritage. Both the documents and the DNA are 100% Sub-Saharan. As the family genealogist, I researched the family back through many documents. The early arrivals here never had a surname, and after the emancipation, a record asking for a surname was filled in as "don't know". Shortly after that various clerks filled in the name as Dontknow, Donnow, Dontnel, and Donnell, which has stuck to this day.

[gilmore]

Of my Donnell relatives, most of them pronounce it DON-nell. Then there's the one branch that says it DON-ell. But we don't talk about them.

Wasn't that Superman's father?

[Fit2BKilted]

Saltire: sal-tire or sal-teer ?

MacKay: mah-kay or mah-ky or machay ?

MacIver: mac-eever or mac-i-ver ?

wondering minds...

I'm no particular authority; but, I'm most familiar with SAUL-tear

I've known several people with the surname "MacKay", and no fewer than 3 favoured pronunciations among them: Mah-KAY, Mah-KAI, and MAK-ee

I'm also predisposed to the Mack-EYE-ver phoneme.

[ccga3359]

Okay what about Buccleuch?

Buck-loo?

[Jock Scot]

Okay what about Buccleuch?

Buck-loo?

Buckcloo------- all in one go.

[hospitaller]

Bletherskite ?

[Kid Cossack]

Sir MacHinery is an excellent read.

[Wompet]

Bletherskite ?

I've always heard it "blah-thur-skyte."

[dfmacliam]

Family names pronunciations always makes me think of Mrs Bucket