This interesting name of Scottish origin is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Dhubhghaill, a patronymic from the given name Dubhghall composed of the elements "dubh" meaning "black" plus "gall" "stranger". The McDougalls were described by the late Doctor Alexander Carmichael as "one of the most unobtrusive and honoured families in Scotland". The surname dates back to the early 13th Century, (see below). Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Mc Dougall, Mc Dougal, etc.. Mary, daughter of Forfar and Catherine Mc Dugle, was christened on April 19th 1750 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, and John Mc Dougle married Sarah Green on May 6th 1832 at St. Dunstan, Stepney. One George Mac Dougall (1824 - 1894) rear-admiral in the Danish service was descended from a 16th Century Mac Dougall. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Duncan Mac Kowle, which was dated 1230, founded Priory of Ardchatton, Argyllshire, during the reign of King Alexander 11 of Scotland, 1214 - 1249. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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