Surname MacDougald - Meaning and Origin
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MacDougald: What does the surname MacDougald mean?
The last name MacDougald is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic MacDhuibh-Ghail, which literally means ‘son of Dubhghall’. The name Dubhghall comes from the Old Gaelic term dubh, meaning dark or black, and gall for one who serves or a stranger. This suggests that the family was likely descended from one of the Pictish settlers of Scotland who were darker in complexion and of a warlike nature.
Over the centuries, this surname evolved and had many variations. It is often described as anincorporated clan name, meaning that many unrelated families adopted the MacDougald name in order to indicate their similar ancestry and place of origin. This could also be due to the fact that the name derived from an individual who was held in high regard or was considered to be of a noble class.
The MacDougalds’ ancestral lands have been described as having once been on the Isles of Mull and elsewhere in Scotland’s western highlands. The surname remains quite common in the country today; there areWilliam MacDougalds listed in the United Kingdom’s electoral registers. Furthermore, there are almost 2,500 people with this clan surname in the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisMacDougald: Where does the name MacDougald come from?
The last name MacDougald is most commonly found in Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland today. The surname is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic MacDhughaill, which is derived from the Old Irish personal names “Mac Dubgaill” and “Mac Thobhair”. The literal translation of this name is “son of Dubgall” and “son of Thobhair”.
Since the surname originated in Scotland, it is still common in the country today. Population records from the 2016 census indicated that MacDougald is the 43rd most common Scottish surname. The name is also common in Northern Ireland, especially in the north and east of the region.
In the United States, the name is less common, but it is still present in some areas. Census records from 1990 indicated that the most common states with MacDougalds were New York, California, Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia. These records also showed that MacDougald’s can be commonly found in Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
In Canada, the name is slightly less common. The 2016 Canadian census indicated that MacDougalds make up 0.0014 of all Canadians, making it a less common surname. The highest concentrations of the name are found in Ontario and the Atlantic region.
Overall, MacDougald is a Scottish-Irish surname most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but it can also be found in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname MacDougald
MacDougald is a surname of Scottish origin which is derived from the Scottish Gaelic MacDhughaill or MacDuibhghaill, both of which mean “son of the dark stranger” in reference to a Norseman. Variations and spellings of the surname MacDougald may include McDougald, MacDugal, MacDugald, MacDuidhghail, and MacDowall.
The surname MacDougald is closely linked to the powerful Clan MàcDhùghaill, also known as Clan MacDougall from Argyll Scotland, and is recognized as one of the original clans of Dalriada. The family is of Norse and Gaelic descent and originally held lands in the western parts of Scotland, as far north as the Isle of Skye and as far south as the Mull of Kintyre.
Along with the variants and spellings of MacDougald, there are many surnames which are derived from the same name, or which have a very similar origin, including McGougan/McGoughen, McGough, McGulgan, McDuggan, MacGulloch, McGulaghan, and McGullough.
Other surnames which are often associated with MacDougald include McDowell, McDougall, MacDowell, McDougal, MacDowall, MacDugal, MacDonell, MacCallum, MacColl, MacCulloch, MacCool, MacCoughlan, and MacKool.
The MacDougald name has spread across much of the world, particularly to the English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Consequently, the number of variations and surnames associated with MacDougald has increased greatly over the years.
Famous people with the name MacDougald
- Isla MacDougald, performer and composer on Broadway
- Andrew MacDougald, Australian radio producer
- John MacDougald, former politician and mayor in Canada
- Malcolm MacDougald, mountaineer and recipient of the Polar Medal
- Gavin MacDougald, modern dancer and choreographer
- Tyrone MacDougald, former vice president of a large technology company
- Emily MacDougald, entrepreneur and author
- Calum MacDougald, a former professional rugby player
- Duncan MacDougald, opera singer and actor
- Morven MacDougald, audiovisual engineer in the film industry