Douglas Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Douglas last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Douglas coat of arms for you.
Meaning and origin of the Douglas last name
Meaning of the Douglas last name: from Douglas in Lanarkshire ("black water"). Douglas comes from the lands of Douglas in Lanarkshire, named from Gaelic dubh, "black", and glas, "stream". The Douglases became one of the most powerful families in medieval Scotland, the "Black Douglases" and later the "Red Douglases", Earls of Douglas and Angus. Sir James Douglas, companion of Robert the Bruce, carried the king's heart on crusade in 1330. Frederick Douglass, the American abolitionist, chose the spelling Douglass. The Black Douglases fell from power in 1455 after their defeat by James II. Scottish emigrants took the name to Ulster, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Douglas name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Douglas name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Douglas family history
Your full Douglas pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Douglas coat of arms for you.
Douglas name FAQ
What does the Douglas name mean?
From Douglas in Lanarkshire ("black water"). Common variants include Douglass, Dougall, Duglas.
Where does the Douglas surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Douglas coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Douglas crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Douglas coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.