Surname MacDowall - Meaning and Origin
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MacDowall: What does the surname MacDowall mean?
The surname MacDowall is a variation of the Scottish clan name MacDonald, originating from the medieval Gaelic term 'son of Donald.' The name was first recorded as MacDomhnaill in the 13th century when the chief of Clan MacDonald, Angus Og, was granted the islands of Islay and would later be known as the Lord of the Isles. The corruption of MacDomhnaill to MacDowall, MacDougall or MacDowell appears to have taken place during the Elizabethan era.
The Clan MacDonald has a long and illustrious history, dating back to the 12th century and during the course of its existence produced several famous figures. Perhaps the most illustrious of the Clan MacDonalds was Somerled, the 5th-century, half-Viking, half-Norse ruler of Argyll in Scotland. His descendants, the Clan MacDonald, would go on to take an active role in some of the most famous battles in Scottish history such as the Battle of Bannockburn, the Battle of Culloden and the Battle of Falkirk.
The name MacDowall is most likely to be found in Scotland, however, emigrations from Scotland during the 19th and 20th centuries saw the name spread far and wide, throughout the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. The name is now associated not only with the Clan, but also with strength, resilience and good fortune. The earliest clansmen MacDowalls were thought to possess a fierce and independent spirit, making their mark on history with their strength and courage.
Order DNA origin analysisMacDowall: Where does the name MacDowall come from?
The MacDowall surname originates from the United Kingdom and Scotland, and is also present in Australia and New Zealand. It's believed to have originated as a descriptive nickame for someone with two festival names - Mac being derived from Mac Dowall - a form of patronymic surname meaning "son of Donald" or "son of the dark stranger", referring to a man with dark skin, hair, or eyes. In terms of present day usage, MacDowall is primarily found in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, the surname is most concentrated in the South West, West Midlands, and Scotland. The surname is also well represented in Australia, specifically in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland, as well as in Hunter and Riverina areas of New South Wales. In New Zealand, the surname is also present, mostly in the North Island. Historically, MacDowall has been an Irish and Scottish name, but in modern times, it's become quite widespread, with families spread out all around the world.
Variations of the surname MacDowall
MacDowall is a surname of Scottish origin, originating from the lands of Galloway. The name typically derives from the Gaelic nickname Mac dubh gall, meaning "son of the dark foreigner."
Variations of MacDowall include MacDowel, MacDowell, MacDoweller, MacDowill, MacDowill, Dowall, Dowel, Dowell, Doweller, Dowill, Dowill, Dowle, and Dwale. All of these spellings share the same origin, stemming from the Gaelic nickname Mac dubh gall.
MacDowall is also known by other surnames in Scotland such as Black, Coull, Pollock, and Paterson.
The presence of the MacDowall surname is spread throughout Scotland, appearing mainly in the Galloway region, as well as in Dumfries and Fife. It is also common in countries with large populations of ethnic Scots, such as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
MacDowall is still a relatively common surname in Scotland today, with around 400 people in the UK registering the surname in 2018.
Famous people with the name MacDowall
- Robert MacDowall: Canadian water polo player and swim coach.
- Ross MacDowall: Canadian ice hockey player.
- William Lawrence MacDowall: Canadian politician.
- Sylvester John MacDowall: Canadian politician.
- Kenneth M. MacDowall: Canadian diplomat.
- Alexander MacDowall: Scottish poet.
- David MacDowall Sims: English military officer and painter.
- Caleb MacDowall: Canadian merchant, contractor and politician.
- Andrew MacDowall: British journalist and author.
- William MacDowall: Australian architect.
- Alexander MacDowall: Australian entrepreneur.
- Carter MacDowall: American actor and voice actor.
- Finlay MacDowall: Scottish pastoralist.
- Elizabeth MacDowall: British-American dancer, teacher and choreographer.
- Georgina MacDowall: English housewife and entrepreneur.
- John MacDowall: Scottish military officer.
- Colin MacDowall: British Member of Parliament.
- John MacDowall: Australian politician.
- John Arthur MacDowall: Canadian jurist.
- Marie MacDowall: Canadian musician and composer.