MCDOUGALL

Also recorded as Mc Dougall, Mcdougall

McDougall

McDougall is a Scottish surname of ancient origin that translates to "son of Dougal." Variants of the name include MacDougall and MacDowall. The clan associated with the surname are known to have historic connections to the west coast of Scotland and the Inner Hebrides.

The McDougall clan is said to have descended from Dougall, the son of Somerled, a 12th-century Lord of the Isles. The clan held lands in Argyll and their stronghold was at Dunollie Castle near Oban. The McDougalls were prominent figures in Scottish history, often involved in conflicts as well as alliances with neighbouring clans and the Scottish crown.

The surname McDougall has spread beyond Scotland, notably to countries like Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand where Scottish immigrants carried their ancestral names.

Today, McDougall remains a common Scottish surname, symbolising a proud and resilient lineage with ties to Scotland's rich cultural and historical heritage.

There are approximately 8,136 people named McDougall in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,160th most common surname in Britain. Around 125 in a million people in Britain are named McDougall.

Surname type: From name of parent

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Scotland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Alan
  • Alexander
  • Andrew
  • David
  • Ian
  • James
  • John
  • Peter
  • Robert
  • William

Female

  • Alison
  • Carol
  • Catherine
  • Elizabeth
  • Fiona
  • Helen
  • Jean
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.