MacDougall
A Scottish Gaelic surname meaning “son of Dougal,” originally from a nickname for a “dark stranger.”
The #7,725 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 71,868 Americans shares it.
Etymology
MacDougall comes from Gaelic Mac Dubhghaill, meaning “son of Dubhghall.” The personal name Dubhghall is usually explained as dubh, “dark,” plus gall, “stranger” or “foreigner,” so the name was often glossed as “black stranger” or “dark foreigner.” In older dictionaries, this was sometimes broadened into “foreigner” or “Lowlander,” but the core sense is the Gaelic personal name Dougal/Dugald.
History
The surname is strongly associated with Scotland, especially the western Highlands and Argyll, through the Clan MacDougall. Historical spellings vary widely, including MacDougal, MacDugall, and MacDowall, reflecting the different ways Gaelic was rendered in English. The name also spread to Ulster and other parts of the English-speaking world through migration.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The Gaelic element gall in this name originally meant “stranger” or “foreigner,” not “Gaul” in the modern French sense.
From the historical record
“MAC DOUGAL "1 Son of Dougal(l : v. MACDOUGALL; Dougal(l [Ir. and GaeL Mac Dubhghaill] MAcg§wEl:l:}«°^°^^°— -°°-" MAC DUFF (Celt.) Son of Dubh : v. Duff MAC EACHAN \ (Celt.) Son of Eachan : MAC EACH EN jv. Eachan. MAC EACHARN \ (Celt.) Son of Eacht(h)-'”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)