About the Dougall Surname

Some records give Douglas; others give Dougall. Both point to the same Scottish family name. Like many surnames, it began with a place: “From Douglas in Lanarkshire ("black water")”. Before spelling was fixed, Douglas was also written Dougall. Before spelling was standardised, one family could appear under several forms.

Other spellings include Douglass and Duglas.

Arms linked to Douglas and its spellings were granted to individual families; our heraldry team traces which line they belonged to. Get the complete Dougall report, with a museum-style coat of arms.