NameCensus.

UK surname

Macdougall

Son of Dougall, a Gaelic personal name meaning "dark stranger" or "black stranger."

In the 1881 census there were 593 people recorded with the Macdougall surname, ranking it #5,894 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,821, ranked #2,395, up from #5,894 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Kilmore and Kilbride. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oban South, Barra and South Uist and Benderloch Trail.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macdougall is 2,821 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 375.7%.

1881 census count

593

Ranked #5,894

Modern count

2,821

2016, ranked #2,395

Peak year

2016

2,821 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macdougall had 593 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,894 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,821 in 2016, ranked #2,395.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,068 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Macdougall surname distribution map

The map shows where the Macdougall surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Macdougall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macdougall over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 415 #5,850
1861 historical 414 #6,200
1881 historical 593 #5,894
1891 historical 805 #5,005
1901 historical 1,068 #4,522
1911 historical 170 #16,510
1997 modern 2,460 #2,551
1998 modern 2,595 #2,521
1999 modern 2,577 #2,551
2000 modern 2,592 #2,529
2001 modern 2,528 #2,536
2002 modern 2,592 #2,539
2003 modern 2,551 #2,520
2004 modern 2,537 #2,535
2005 modern 2,538 #2,513
2006 modern 2,562 #2,489
2007 modern 2,592 #2,482
2008 modern 2,628 #2,471
2009 modern 2,674 #2,485
2010 modern 2,719 #2,509
2011 modern 2,662 #2,528
2012 modern 2,676 #2,475
2013 modern 2,766 #2,450
2014 modern 2,804 #2,438
2015 modern 2,801 #2,416
2016 modern 2,821 #2,395

Geography

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Where Macdougalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Kilmore and Kilbride, Kilninian and Kilmore and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oban South, Barra and South Uist, Benderloch Trail, Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree and Oban North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Kilmore and Kilbride Argyll
4 Kilninian and Kilmore Argyll
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oban South Argyll and Bute
2 Barra and South Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 Benderloch Trail Argyll and Bute
4 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute
5 Oban North Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macdougall

These lists show first names that appear often with the Macdougall surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macdougall

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Macdougall, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Macdougall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Macdougall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Macdougall is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Macdougall is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Macdougall falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Macdougall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Macdougall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Macdougall

The surname MacDougall is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic mac Dughail, meaning "son of Dougall". It originated in the region of Argyll, on the western coast of Scotland.

The name is believed to have emerged in the 12th century, with the earliest recorded instance being Dougal de Ergadia in 1164. This Dougal de Ergadia was a descendant of the ancient Celtic royal house of Lorn and held lands in Argyll.

In the 13th century, the MacDougalls were influential lords in the region of Lorn and Argyll. They were engaged in various conflicts with neighboring clans, such as the Campbells and the MacDonalds. One notable figure was Alexander MacDougall, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

The MacDougalls are mentioned in several historical records, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland and the Chronicles of Fordun. In 1369, John MacDougall of Lorn is recorded as having paid homage to King David II of Scotland.

In the 15th century, the MacDougalls were involved in the Wars of the Roses in England, with some members supporting the Lancastrian cause. One notable figure from this period was Dougal MacDougall, who fought at the Battle of Towton in 1461.

Over the centuries, the surname has been spelled in various ways, including McDougall, McDugald, and McDougal. It has also been associated with several place names, such as Dunollie Castle in Oban, which was once a seat of the MacDougall chiefs.

Some notable individuals with the surname MacDougall throughout history include:

1. John MacDougall (1745-1823), a Scottish-American entrepreneur and landowner in Nova Scotia. 2. Sir Patrick MacDougall (1834-1894), a Scottish journalist and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh. 3. William MacDougall (1822-1905), a Canadian politician and statesman who served as the first Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories. 4. Gladys MacDougall (1905-1999), a British actress and singer known for her work in musical theater. 5. Ranald MacDougall (1915-1973), an American screenwriter and novelist best known for his work on the film Cleopatra (1963).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macdougall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macdougall surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Inverness-shire leads with 108 Macdougalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.66x.

County Total Index
Inverness-shire 108 81.66x
Argyllshire 95 77.06x
Lanarkshire 71 4.96x
Midlothian 27 4.55x
Renfrewshire 23 6.70x
Yorkshire 12 0.27x
Dunbartonshire 10 8.40x
Lancashire 9 0.17x
Perthshire 9 4.53x
Stirlingshire 8 4.90x
Angus 6 1.46x
Gloucestershire 6 0.69x
Herefordshire 6 3.30x
Suffolk 6 1.11x
Ayrshire 5 1.51x
Essex 5 0.57x
Fife 5 1.91x
Warwickshire 5 0.45x
Westmorland 5 5.14x
Middlesex 4 0.09x
Northumberland 4 0.61x
Cheshire 3 0.31x
Ross-shire 3 2.47x
Sutherland 3 8.81x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.49x
Cumberland 2 0.52x
Morayshire 2 2.91x
Somerset 2 0.28x
Surrey 2 0.09x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.02x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.33x
Kent 1 0.07x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Sussex 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 34 Macdougalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.60x.

Place Total Index
Govan 34 9.60x
Urquhart Glenmoriston 26 695.19x
Trumisgarry 24 1791.04x
Ardnamurchan 23 368.00x
Kilninian Kilmore 20 529.10x
West Greenock 19 30.84x
Inverness 17 51.11x
Glasgow 16 6.29x
Barony 15 4.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 6.28x
Dalavich 12 3529.41x
Kilmore Kilbride 12 153.26x
South Uist 9 97.51x
Tyree 9 214.80x
Buchanan 8 963.86x
Glenorchy Inishail 8 563.38x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 7.84x
North Uist 7 135.66x
Dumbarton 6 36.23x
Sotterley 6 1500.00x
Birmingham 5 1.34x
Boleskine Abertarff 5 228.31x
Coldashton 5 847.46x
Gosfield 5 537.63x
Kilmarnock 5 12.67x
Kilmonivaig 5 170.07x
Kilmuir 5 128.53x
Newbattle 5 98.62x
Perth St Pauls 5 108.70x
Portree 5 102.25x
Ross 5 69.25x
Undermilbeck 5 155.76x
Cupar 4 35.09x
Dundee 4 2.61x
Dunoon Kilmun 4 41.62x
Rotherham 4 16.17x
Tweedmouth 4 48.72x
Edinburgh St Marys 3 26.02x
Kilarrow 3 227.27x
Kirkhill 3 133.33x
Liverpool 3 0.94x
Logie 3 42.08x
Paisley Middle Church 3 15.02x
Rutherglen 3 14.28x
Arbroath 2 14.71x
Bath St Peter St Paul 2 63.49x
Blackburn 2 1.43x
Cardross 2 14.00x
Chiswick 2 8.26x
Dalziel 2 12.98x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 16.25x
Kilfinichen 2 65.57x
Lairg 2 96.62x
Luss 2 180.18x
Newton 2 4.94x
Rothes 2 59.52x
Stornoway 2 12.62x
Alvie 1 93.46x
Applecross 1 29.24x
Brandesburton 1 86.96x
Cathcart 1 5.39x
Chichester St Peter 1 166.67x
Chipstead 1 102.04x
Clifton 1 2.28x
Daviot Dunlichity 1 52.63x
Dryfesdale 1 22.17x
Edinburgh Old 1 27.78x
Graveley 1 172.41x
Hereford St Peter 1 20.62x
Inveresk 1 6.23x
Kildalton Oa 1 526.32x
Lancaster 1 3.20x
Lee 1 4.56x
Lismore Appin 1 24.39x
North Meols 1 1.94x
Runcorn 1 4.44x
St George Hanover 1 1.73x
Tranmere 1 2.78x
West Kirby 1 58.82x
Woodside Quarter 1 111.11x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Macdougall surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 5
Sarah 4
Ellen 3
Helen 3
Jane 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Cassandra 1
Celina 1
Clara 1
Colina 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Isabella 1
Jesse 1
Martha 1
Richmond 1
Winnefield 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Macdougall surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Alexander 5
John 5
James 3
Allan 2
Donald 2
Edward 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Adlia 1
Alex 1
Alfred 1
Allen 1
Archd. 1
Charles 1
Colin 1
Edwin 1
Finlay 1
George 1
Henry 1
J.W. 1
Malcolm 1
Peter 1
William 1

FAQ

Macdougall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macdougall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 593 people were recorded with the Macdougall surname. That placed it at #5,894 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macdougall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,821 in 2016. That gives Macdougall a modern rank of #2,395.

What does the Macdougall surname mean?

Son of Dougall, a Gaelic personal name meaning "dark stranger" or "black stranger."

What does the Macdougall map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Macdougall bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.