NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcdougall

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacDhùghaill," meaning "son of Dùghall" (a personal name meaning "dark stranger").

In the 1881 census there were 6,952 people recorded with the Mcdougall surname, ranking it #611 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,544, ranked #1,031, down from #611 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ06, Whisky Isles and Knapdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdougall is 8,201 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.9%.

1881 census count

6,952

Ranked #611

Modern count

6,544

2016, ranked #1,031

Peak year

1901

8,201 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcdougall had 6,952 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #611 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,544 in 2016, ranked #1,031.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,201 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcdougall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcdougall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcdougall 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 4,101 #696
1861 historical 4,720 #599
1881 historical 6,952 #611
1891 historical 7,498 #600
1901 historical 8,201 #656
1911 historical 1,418 #3,403
1997 modern 6,100 #1,076
1998 modern 6,284 #1,082
1999 modern 6,366 #1,078
2000 modern 6,287 #1,083
2001 modern 6,164 #1,080
2002 modern 6,321 #1,078
2003 modern 6,141 #1,089
2004 modern 6,084 #1,094
2005 modern 6,141 #1,069
2006 modern 6,166 #1,062
2007 modern 6,273 #1,052
2008 modern 6,278 #1,058
2009 modern 6,416 #1,061
2010 modern 6,493 #1,066
2011 modern 6,404 #1,067
2012 modern 6,353 #1,054
2013 modern 6,444 #1,055
2014 modern 6,533 #1,052
2015 modern 6,515 #1,041
2016 modern 6,544 #1,031

Geography

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Where Mcdougalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Kilmore and Kilbride. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ06, Whisky Isles, Knapdale, Milton West and Greenock West and Central. 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 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Kilmore and Kilbride Argyll

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ06 West Dunbartonshire
2 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
3 Knapdale Argyll and Bute
4 Milton West Glasgow City
5 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcdougall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcdougall

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcdougall, 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 Mcdougall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcdougall 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcdougall is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcdougall 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

Mcdougall falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcdougall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcdougall

The surname McDougall has its origins in the Scottish Highlands, emerging in the medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic 'mac Dhughail', meaning 'son of Dougal'. Dougal itself is a Scottish variant of the name Dugald, which stems from the Old Norse name Dufgall, composed of the elements 'dufr' meaning 'dove' and 'gall' meaning 'stranger'.

McDougall is among the many surnames that arose as a patronymic, identifying an individual as the son or descendant of a specific person. This naming convention became increasingly common in Scotland and throughout Europe during the Middle Ages as populations grew and identification beyond a single name became necessary.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the McDougall name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1438, where a John McDougall is mentioned. The name is also found in various historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland and the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland.

Notably, the McDougall family was prominent in the Scottish clan system, with the Clan MacDougall originating in Argyll and Lorn. The clan's ancestral lands included the islands of Lorn, Mull, and parts of Argyll. The clan chief's seat was Dunollie Castle, near Oban.

Among the notable individuals bearing the McDougall surname throughout history are John McDougall (1718-1786), a Scottish inventor and founder of the first successful mechanical spinning mill in Britain; James McDougall (1810-1865), a Scottish-American businessman and abolitionist; and Sir William McDougall (1822-1905), a Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician who served as the first Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories.

Other prominent figures include Gladys McDougall (1905-1976), an Australian social worker and activist for women's rights; and Ian McDougall (1938-2022), an Australian geologist and expert on the dating of volcanic rocks.

While the McDougall name is predominantly Scottish in origin, it has since spread worldwide, with notable bearers in various countries and regions. The name has also undergone various spelling variations over time, such as MacDougall, MacDougle, and McDougal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcdougall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdougall 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. Lancashire leads with 54 Mcdougalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.20x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 54 2.20x
Middlesex 27 1.31x
Durham 22 3.58x
Northumberland 18 5.85x
Yorkshire 16 0.78x
Ayrshire 11 7.11x
Devon 11 2.56x
Warwickshire 7 1.34x
Hampshire 6 1.42x
Argyllshire 5 8.69x
Dumfriesshire 5 10.95x
Flintshire 4 7.20x
Inverness-shire 4 6.48x
Lanarkshire 4 0.60x
Cheshire 3 0.66x
Kent 2 0.28x
Leicestershire 2 0.87x
Royal Navy 2 8.12x
Staffordshire 2 0.29x
Angus 1 0.52x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.20x
Cumberland 1 0.56x
Midlothian 1 0.36x
Oxfordshire 1 0.78x
Suffolk 1 0.40x
Sussex 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 13 Mcdougalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.62x.

Place Total Index
Everton 13 16.62x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 13 48.78x
Islington London 13 6.49x
Kirkdale 12 29.07x
Toxteth Park 11 13.24x
Westgate 11 57.71x
Dunlop 9 927.84x
Holy Trinity 9 18.26x
Aston 7 4.87x
Westoe 7 20.07x
Dalton In Furness 5 52.80x
Hutton 5 862.07x
Kensington London 5 4.35x
Knapdale South 5 252.53x
Leeds 5 4.32x
Hawarden 4 91.53x
North Uist 4 165.98x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 12.06x
Tormoham 4 21.97x
Walton On Hill 4 30.10x
East Stonehouse 3 35.38x
Govan 3 1.81x
Kirkby Ireleth 3 245.90x
Latchford 3 99.01x
Portsea 3 3.61x
St Sepulchre London 3 99.01x
Wallsend 3 30.74x
Leicester St Margaret 2 3.58x
Oldham 2 2.53x
Preston 2 3.05x
Southampton St Mary 2 7.50x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 2.70x
Tynemouth 2 12.14x
Ayr 1 13.70x
Banbury 1 39.06x
Barony 1 0.59x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.89x
Bow London 1 3.80x
Camerton 1 400.00x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.84x
Dover Castle 1 196.08x
Fulham London 1 3.33x
Gateshead 1 2.17x
Girvan 1 25.77x
Glamis 1 86.21x
Gorleston 1 15.63x
Hampton London 1 29.41x
Haughton 1 27.93x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 7.58x
Hove 1 6.54x
Llysfaen 1 114.94x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 24.69x
North Meols 1 4.16x
Paddington London 1 1.32x
Ringwood 1 36.90x
Royal Navy 1 4.75x
Sculcoates 1 3.08x
South Leith 1 3.21x
St George Hanover 1 3.71x
Westminster St 1 13.12x
Whitley 1 101.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 6
Margaret 6
Eliza 5
Isabella 5
Agnes 4
Ann 4
Catherine 4
Jane 4
Janet 4
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Christina 2
Hannah 2
Linda 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Cathrine 1
Christean 1
Clara 1
Elizb. 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hanah 1
Jean 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Llouise 1
Lola 1
M.A. 1
Maggie 1
Marion 1
Marriett 1
Phebe 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 13
James 8
Thomas 6
Robert 5
Alexander 4
David 3
Duncan 3
Hugh 3
Alexr. 2
Daniel 2
Neill 2
Samuel 2
Allan 1
Archibald 1
Charles 1
Donald 1
Duman 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Henry 1
Jas. 1
Malcolm 1
Matthew 1
Moody 1
P. 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Mcdougall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcdougall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,952 people were recorded with the Mcdougall surname. That placed it at #611 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcdougall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,544 in 2016. That gives Mcdougall a modern rank of #1,031.

What does the Mcdougall surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacDhùghaill," meaning "son of Dùghall" (a personal name meaning "dark stranger").

What does the Mcdougall map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcdougall 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.