UK surname
Irish surname "son of the brown-haired or dark-haired one".
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Mcdugald surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Saddell and Skipness and Arisaig and Moidart. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdugald is 178 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
-
Peak year
1851
178 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcdugald surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcdugald surname density by area, 1861 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 | 178 | #11,397 |
| 1861 | historical | 133 | #16,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1891 | historical | 26 | #32,189 |
| 1901 | historical | 4 | #33,876 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Saddell and Skipness, Arisaig and Moidart, Kilfinan and Tiree and Coll. 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 | Saddell and Skipness | Argyll |
| 3 | Arisaig and Moidart | Inverness |
| 4 | Kilfinan | Argyll |
| 5 | Tiree and Coll | Argyll |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcdugald 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 Mcdugald, 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 Mcdugald surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcdugald 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, Mcdugald 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 Mcdugald is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcdugald, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McDugald has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the late medieval period. It is a variant spelling of the more common Scottish surname McDonald, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name Domhnall. This name is composed of the elements "domhnu," meaning "world," and "val," meaning "rule" or "chief," suggesting the name originally referred to a prominent leader or chieftain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the McDugald spelling can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1506, which mentioned a John McDugald from the county of Argyll. This region, located in the western Highlands of Scotland, was a stronghold of the clan Donald, from which the surname is believed to have originated.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the McDugald name appeared in various Scottish records and manuscripts, including parish registers and court documents. One notable figure was Robert McDugald, a Presbyterian minister who was born in Ayrshire in 1640 and later served as the minister of Kilwinning.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, many individuals bearing the McDugald surname emigrated from Scotland to other parts of the British Empire, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand. One such individual was John McDugald, who was born in Argyll in 1748 and later settled in Nova Scotia, Canada, where he worked as a farmer and fisherman.
Another notable McDugald was Archibald McDugald, a Scottish-born Australian politician and merchant who was born in 1810 in Argyll. He emigrated to Australia in the 1830s and became a successful businessman in Sydney, later serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.
In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the McDugald surname was William McDugald, who was born in Scotland in 1775 and later settled in North Carolina. He served as a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in the early 19th century.
Overall, the surname McDugald has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Highlands, with its origins dating back to the medieval era. While not as common as the McDonald spelling, it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Mcdugald surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
Irish surname "son of the brown-haired or dark-haired one".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcdugald 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.