UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Dùghallach," meaning "dark stranger" or "black stranger."
In the 1881 census there were 211 people recorded with the Mcdougald surname, ranking it #12,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #12,407 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Arisaig and Moidart and Tiree and Coll. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdougald is 652 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.4%.
1881 census count
211
Ranked #12,407
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1851
652 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcdougald surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcdougald surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 652 | #3,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 523 | #5,015 |
| 1881 | historical | 211 | #12,407 |
| 1891 | historical | 191 | #15,437 |
| 1901 | historical | 145 | #18,426 |
| 1911 | historical | 19 | #31,416 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Arisaig and Moidart, Tiree and Coll, Barra and Killarow and Kilmeny. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Arisaig and Moidart | Inverness |
| 3 | Tiree and Coll | Argyll |
| 4 | Barra | Inverness |
| 5 | Killarow and Kilmeny | Argyll |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcdougald surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcdougald, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcdougald surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcdougald household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcdougald is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcdougald is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcdougald, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCDOUGALD is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name MacDhughail, which means "son of Dougal". Dougal itself is a Scottish form of the name Dugald, which comes from the Gaelic name Dualghall, meaning "dark stranger".
The earliest recorded instance of the name MCDOUGALD can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage letters written to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "MacDugal" in these rolls, which were signed by Scottish nobles and landowners after the king's conquest of Scotland.
In the 15th century, the name MCDOUGALD was associated with the Clan MacDougall, a powerful Scottish clan based in Argyll and Lorne. The clan's ancestral seat was Dunollie Castle, located near Oban in the Scottish Highlands.
One notable bearer of the name MCDOUGALD was Dougal MacDougall, the 12th Chief of the Clan MacDougall, who lived in the late 16th century. He played a prominent role in the clan's conflicts with the neighboring Campbell clan.
Another historical figure with the name MCDOUGALD was Dougal McDougall, a Scottish explorer and trader who was born around 1715. He was one of the first Europeans to explore the interior of British Columbia and the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
In the 19th century, the name MCDOUGALD was also found in the United States, where it was sometimes spelled as "McDOUGALD". One notable American with this surname was John Breckinridge McDougald (1829-1865), a Confederate officer who served in the American Civil War.
Other notable bearers of the MCDOUGALD name include the Scottish author and journalist Duncan McDougald (1855-1914), the Canadian politician and businessman Alexander McDougald (1855-1934), and the American artist and sculptor Asa McDougald (1885-1953).
The MCDOUGALD surname has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in Scottish heritage and culture. While the spelling and pronunciation may have varied over time, the name's origins can be traced back to the Gaelic name Dualghall and the powerful Clan MacDougall of Argyll.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdougald surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Royal Navy leads with 1 Mcdougalds recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Navy | 1 | 909.09x |
FAQ
In 1881, 211 people were recorded with the Mcdougald surname. That placed it at #12,407 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Mcdougald a modern rank of #36,998.
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Dùghallach," meaning "dark stranger" or "black stranger."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcdougald bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.