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Type Surname (from nickname)
Other Forms FormsMcDowall, MacDowell, MacDowall

Meaning & History

Scottish and Irish Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Dubhghaill ‘son of Dubhghall’, a byname meaning ‘dark stranger’, used among the Gaels to distinguish the darker-haired Danes from fair-haired Norwegians. According to MacLysaght, this is the Irish form of the name of the Scottish clan McDougall, borne by a branch which went to Ireland from the Hebrides as mercenaries. However, Black shows that both forms were current in Scotland.
Added 3/24/2016 by anonymous
Edited 7/5/2017 by LMS