Donsdale is named in honour of Frank Doncaster who owned a large tract of land in the area in the mid-1940s. After annexation to the City of Edmonton, the use of the name continued.
The neighbourhood experienced the bulk of its development in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but pre-existing country residential (estate) lots run the length of the river valley's edge. Donsdale provides an attractive residential environment with existing natural features of the area, including the preservation of significant viewpoints like Wedgewood Ravine and access to the local ravine system. Civic ward: sipiwiyiniwak. District: West Edmonton. City boundary records effective 1981-10-01.