Douglas
A famous Scottish surname from the River Douglas and the lands beside it, likely meaning “dark water” or “dark grey stream.”
The #311 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 3,043 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is chiefly locational, taken from the lands around the River Douglas in Lanarkshire. The name is usually explained from Gaelic elements meaning “dark” and “grey,” referring to the river’s appearance. Early bearers adopted it from the place-name, and the form became established very early in Scottish history.
History
Lower calls Douglas the name of one of Scotland’s most powerful families and says it was assumed from lands by the River Douglas, with a bearer established there by the late 12th century. The house of Douglas became one of the great medieval Scottish dynasties, so the surname spread widely and acquired strong historical prestige. It remains common in Scotland and throughout the English-speaking world.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The Douglas family was so prominent that the surname became almost a symbol of Scottish nobility in later historical writing.
From the historical record
“hardy, manly. DOUGLAS. The most powerful and widely celebrated famil3'that Scotland ever produced. The name was assumed from lands on the small river Douglas, in Lan- arkshire, (Gael, diif-glas, du-cjlas, i.e., dark grey, from the colour of its waters), where William of Dufglaswas established as early as 1175. This…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom