McDaniels
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Daniel,” with the Mc- prefix marking descent in Irish and Scottish naming tradition.
The #4,858 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 42,550 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McDaniels is a patronymic surname built from Mc/Mac, a Gaelic prefix meaning “son of,” plus the personal name Daniel. Daniel comes from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, meaning “God is my judge.” The surname therefore means, in effect, “son of Daniel” or “descendant of Daniel.”
History
The name developed as a surname in Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish naming environments, where Mc/Mac forms were used to identify a man as the son of a father named Daniel. In English-language records, the spelling McDaniels often appears alongside related forms such as McDaniel and MacDaniel. It is now found mainly in the United States and other English-speaking countries, often reflecting Irish or Scottish ancestry.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Daniel is a biblical name, McDaniels belongs to the large family of surnames built from Christian given names rather than from occupations or places.