MCDILL
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Dill, Mcdill
McDill is a surname of Scottish origin with its roots in Gaelic naming traditions. The name is generally understood to be a patronymic, derived from a Gaelic personal name that begins with Mac, meaning “son of.” Multiple forms of the original Gaelic name have been recorded, including *Mac Dhuibhshíthe*, *Mac Dubhghaill*, *Mac Dhaibhidh* and *Mac Duibhshílabhe*. The literal translations of these include “son of the dark fairy,” “son of the black stranger,” “son of David” and “son of the black peace.” Each of these interpretations reflects a different facet of Scottish Gaelic heritage and the practices of naming in medieval Scotland.
The surname appears in the historical record under a variety of spellings. Among the most common are MacDowall, MacDowell, MacDougal, McDugald, McDougal, McDuall, McDill, McDool and McCool. These variations arose from regional accents, the process of anglicisation and the lack of a fixed spelling system before modern times. Some instances of the surname appear without the Mac or Mc prefix, giving rise to surnames such as Dill, Deal or Dell, although these may sometimes be coincidental in origin.
Early documentary evidence of the family name is found as far back as the early thirteenth century. In 1230, a Duncan MacKowle is documented as the founder of the Priory of Ardchattan in the Medieval Records of Argyllshire, during the reign of Alexander XI (1214‑1249). Subsequent records include Robert M'Kowele, Lord of Karsnelohe in Ayrshire, recorded in 1370; Fergus Macdowylle of Roxburghshire in 1374; and, in 1526, John and Michael McDill accused of murder and “respited.” Both John and Michael were followers of the Earl of Cassilis, who was involved in an unsuccessful bid for the Scottish throne. Later entries name individuals such as Ewin M'Dougall of Dunaverty, Argyllshire, in 1647; Francis Thomas McDougall, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, England, in 1874; and Sir Patrick Leonard MacDoughall (1819‑1894), a distinguished general in the British Army.
The surname is historically linked to the clan of MacDougall, said to be descended from Dugall, the eldest son of Somerled of the Isles. According to Dr Alexander Carmichael, the MacDougalls were one of the most unobtrusive and honored families in Scotland. The patronymic *Mac Dubhghaill* is believed to have been a nickname for Scandinavians, notably distinguishing the darker‑haired Danes from fair‑haired Norwegians. The early use of the name in the Scottish Highlands, and subsequently its spread across the island of Galloway, places the McDill surname firmly within the context of the ancient Dalriadan clans of the west coast and Hebrides.
In contemporary times the surname is most frequently found in Britain, particularly in Scotland, and in North America, where Scottish emigration in the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries established substantial communities. According to the distribution records of Forebears, the name is common in the United States, especially in Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and North Carolina. Migration was often motivated by economic and social pressures in Scotland, including the Highland Clearances. Although the McDill name has become less common in mainland Scotland due to emigration, it remains a recognised surname with a rich historical lineage.
Typical given names associated with the McDill surname
Male
- Alec
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Liam
- Patrick
- Robert
- Sean
- William
Female
- Amy
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Hannah
- Kirsty
- Louise
- Marion
- Rachel
- Sharon
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McDill in...
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There are approximately 173 people named McDill in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around three in a million people in Britain are named McDill.
