The name derives from former landowners in the area; the earliest written record of the name comes from a 1717 deed for Baldonnell which lists alternate spellings of Baldownan, Balldonnan, and Ballydonnell. Two surviving local houses (the oldest to the north of the airfield, and the newest further east in the same area) claim the name Baldonnell House, and the ruins of the original house are located to the east of the airfield.[2]