The McDougall surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,655 people carried this name — #5,242 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 44,200 people counted. That is up 6% from 6,258 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the McDougall surname

Scottish surname, from Scottish Gaelic Mac Dubhghaill (“son of Dubhghall”), from dubh (“black”) + Gall (“stranger”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «McDougall» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Scotland, 1880s

McDougall was 26 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 385. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Argyllshire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 591 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

McDougall was recorded 94 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 273rd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 195. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

McDougall in American newspapers,
1899–1919.

Newspaper page from Missouri Valley Times carrying the name McDougall
Missouri Valley Times 1919-06-19
Newspaper page from Akron Daily Democrat carrying the name McDougall
Akron Daily Democrat 1899-08-04
Newspaper page from Evening Times-republican carrying the name McDougall
Evening Times-republican 1909-05-15

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

McDougall in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

63,435 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McDougall. The most, 14,308, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 21,050
Queensland 14,528
Victoria 9,445
Western Australia 7,314
South Australia 6,817
Tasmania 3,945
ACT (Canberra) 222
Northern Territory 34

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McDougall.

Who carried it

People named McDougall,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William McDougall
    William McDougall 1871–1938 · university teacher
  • John McDougall
    John McDougall 1818–1866 · governor
  • James A. McDougall
    James A. McDougall 1817–1867 · politician
  • William McDougall
    William McDougall 1822–1905 · newspaper proprietor
  • John A. McDougall 1947–2024 · internist
  • Frank McDougall 1958–2023 · association football player

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0.

In the public record

People named McDougall,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,407 records

1,407 records of the McDougall name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 395
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 305
  • Other U.S. records 707
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Eska F. McDougall

    Born 1919 in Texas. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Sam Houston; farm hand from Gillespie County. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Marion McDougall

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the City of Rome from Moville, aged 28; servant. From Glasgow, Scotland; bound for New Jersey.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Hima Duncan McDougall

    Born 1949; from Thompson Falls, Montana. U.S. Army, medium helicopter repairer; killed in action 1970 in Quang Tin, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,407 records for McDougall in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia2,783 records

2,783 records of the McDougall name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,305
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 498
  • Other Australian records 980
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record James McDougall

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Equestrian, sailing from London in 1844. Native of Campbeltown, Argyllshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Hannah Jane McDougall

    Died 1930 in Middleton, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1930.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Duncan McDougall

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Sea Ranger, aged 27; British subject.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,783 records for McDougall in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada2,602 records

2,602 records of the McDougall name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 2,240
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 116
  • Other Canadian records 246
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Daniel McDougall

    Killed in 1924 at the Inverness No. 1 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wm McDougall

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Prussian, landing at Quebec, bound for London, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Lavern McDougall

    Died 1997, aged 78; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 2,602 records for McDougall in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom151 records

151 records of the McDougall name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 95
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 52
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 4
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Robert McDougall

    Born 1892 at Fochabers; gardener. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Hugh McDougall

    Died 1949, aged 79; buried at Dunblane Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. McDougall

    Machine Gun Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 151 records for McDougall in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand56 records

56 records of the McDougall name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 41
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 8
  • Other New Zealand records 7
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Malvena Mary McDougall

    Died 1964, aged 93; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Daniel McDougall

    Died 1963, aged 55; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Lorraine Lesley McDougall

    Born 1940, died 1993; ashes interred at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 56 records for McDougall in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Netherlands2 records

2 records of the McDougall name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Lindsley McDougall

    Died 1965 in Overleden op Zee, aged 64.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for McDougall in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the McDougall name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Mary Louise McDougall

    Born 1942 in Canada; died 1991 in Lyon (Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to McDougall.

When the index is not enough

This page says where McDougall is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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