Douglas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Douglas

What does the name Douglas mean?

The ancient Pictish-Scottish family that first used the name Douglas lived in Moray, where the family has a long and distinguished history dating back to early times. Some claim the name is derived from a knight of 770 who after aiding King Solvathius of Scotland in his great battle with Donald Bain, King of the Western Isles was granted the lands of Clydesdale. Others claim the name was originally derived from Theobaldus, a Flemming and were granted the lands of Douglas Water. In Gaelic, the name is Dudhglas means "black stream."

Early Origins of the Douglas family

The surname Douglas was first found in Moray, where the progenitor of the Clan is thought to be Archibald of Douglasdale (1198-1239). The Douglasses of Drumlanrig claim descent from Sir William Douglas, who was granted the lands of Drumlanrig in 1412 by King James I.

The grandson of Archibald Douglasdale, known as William the Hardy, served as a companion-in-arms to William Wallace, the patriot leader of the Scottish wars of Independence. His two sons carried on his noble reputation. The first, William, was the progenitor of the Douglases of Morton and was granted the Earldom of Morton in 1458 by King James II. The second, Andrew, and his family became known as the Black Douglases. 1

Early History of the Douglas family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Douglas research. Another 232 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1174, 1220, 1243, 1274, 1298, 1328, 1360, 1380, 1400, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1408, 1540, 1594, 1595, 1611, 1662, 1674 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Douglas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Douglas Spelling Variations

The arts of spelling and translation were yet in their infancies when surnames began, so there are an enormous number of spelling variations of the names in early Scottish records. This is a particular problem with Scottish names because of the numerous times a name might have been loosely translated to English from Gaelic and back. Douglas has been spelled Douglas, Douglass, Dougliss, Dougless, Dowglas, Duglas, Duglass and many more.

Early Notables of the Douglas family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Archibald Douglas, (1328-1400), 3rd Earl of Douglas, Earl of Wigtown, Lord of Douglas, Lord of Bothwell and Lord of Galloway, a late medieval Scottish magnate
George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus (1380-1403), mediaeval Scottish nobleman
Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar (c. 1360-1408), inherited most of brothers property, excluding only the Douglas lands which could only pass through the male line, she became the most sought after brid...
Sir William Douglas of Castle Douglas in Lanarkshire
William Douglas of Whittingehame (c. 1540-1595), Scottish Senator of the College of Justice at Edinburgh, and a Royal conspirator
Robert Douglas (1594-1674), the only minister of the Church of Scotland to be Moderator of the General Assembly five times

Douglas World Ranking

In the United States, the name Douglas is the 257^th most popular surname with an estimated 101,967 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Douglas is ranked the 328^th most popular surname with an estimated 13,725 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Douglas is the 188^th popular surname with an estimated 17,058 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Douglas as 154^th with 3,269 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Douglas as 224^th with 25,951 people. 6

Migration of the Douglas family to Ireland

Some of the Douglas family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Douglas migration to the United States +

This oppression forced many Scots to leave their homelands. Most of these chose North America as their destination. Although the journey left many sick and poor, these immigrants were welcomed the hardy with great opportunity. Many of these settlers stood up for their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. More recently, Scots abroad have recovered much of their collective heritage through highland games and other patriotic functions and groups. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has located various settlers bearing the name Douglas:

Douglas Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Douglas, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 7
Hugh Douglas, who settled in Virginia in 1635
Archeball Douglas, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 7
John Douglas, who settled in Virginia in 1655
Lee William Douglas, who settled in Virginia in 1655
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Douglas Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Cha Douglas, who landed in Virginia in 1703 7
Alexander Douglas, who landed in South Carolina in 1750 7
John Douglas, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 7
Adam Douglas, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 7
Hugh Douglas, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Douglas Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel Douglas, aged 18, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 7
Campbell Douglas, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1813 7
William Douglas, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1814 7
William Douglas, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1817 7
Daniel Douglas, aged 32, who landed in New York in 1819 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Douglas migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Douglas Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Robert Douglas, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
William Douglas, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Colin Douglas, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
Margaret Douglas, who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773

Douglas Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Douglas, aged 26, Scottish labourer who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 with his wife and 2 children
Anne Douglas, aged 50, Scottish widow who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 with 4 children
Donald Douglas, aged 24, Scottish blacksmith, who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816
William Douglas, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1815
George Douglas, who landed in Canada in 1820
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Douglas Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

James Douglas, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Douglas migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Douglas Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Douglas, (b. 1783), aged 32, Scottish farmer who was convicted in Dumfries, Scotland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1865 8
Mr. James Douglas, (b. 1798), aged 21, English gardener who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1870 9
Mr. Francis Douglas, (Douglass), (b. 1785), aged 34, Irish servant who was convicted in Antrim, Northern Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Castle Forbes" on 3rd October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Mr. William Douglas, British Convict who was convicted in Berkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Mr. John Douglas, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Douglas migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Douglas Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

J Douglas, who landed in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Aurora
Donald Douglas, aged 30, a blacksmith, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
Mary Douglas, aged 32, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
Mary Douglas, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
William Douglas, aged 26, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Douglas (post 1700) +

Kirk Douglas (1916-2020), born Issur Danielovitch, an American actor and film producer and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, responsible for helping to end the Hollywood blacklist
Ruben Enrique Douglas (1979-2024), American-Panamanian professional basketball player
Herbert Paul "Herb" Douglas Jr. (1922-2023), American bronze medalist long jumper at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Jerry Douglas (1932-2021), American television and film actor, for 25 years Douglas reigned as patriarch John Abbott in the fictional Genoa City on the daytime television serial The Young and the Restless
Andrew Grant "Andy" Douglas (1932-2021), American Republican justice of the Ohio Supreme Court who served in that office from 1985 to 2002
Suzzanne Douglas (1957-2021), American actress, best known for her role as matriarch Jerri Peterson on The WB sitcom The Parent Hood
Jerry Douglas (1935-2021), American director and writer, notably of gay pornographic films
Donna Douglas (1933-2015), American character actress best-known for her role as Elly May Clampett in the long-running television series The Beverly Hillbillies
David Glenn Douglas (1963-2016), American NFL football offensive lineman
Diana Douglas (1923-2015), born Diana Love Dill, Bermudian-born American actress and comedienne, wife of Kirk Douglas, mother of Michael and Joel Douglas
... (Another 30 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Douglas family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Thomas Douglas, British Baker from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 13

Hindenburg LZ-129

Mr. Edward Douglas (1898-1937), American Advertising Account Executive from Newark, New Jersey, USA, who was a passenger on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and died in the Airship Fire 14

HMS Hood

Mr. Neil H Douglas (b. 1921), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Ealing, Middlesex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 15

HMS Repulse

Mr. John Douglas, British Stoker Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 16
Mr. Wilfred John Douglas, British Cook "S", who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 16

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Mahala Douglas, (née Dutton), aged 48, American First Class passenger from Minneapolis, Minnesota who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 2 17
Mrs. Mary Hélène Douglas, (née Baxter), aged 27, Canadian First Class passenger from Montreal, Quebec who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 6 17
Mr. Walter Donald Douglas (d. 1912), aged 50, American First Class passenger from Minneapolis, Minnesota who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 17

SS Atlantic

Mr. George Douglas, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

USS Indianapolis

Gene Dale Douglas (1925-1989), American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he survived the sinking 18

Winter Quarters coal mine

Mr. William Keddie Douglas (b. 1869), Scottish mine worker from Fife, Scotland residing in Spanish Fork, Utah who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 19

The Douglas Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Jamais arriere
Motto Translation: Never behind.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/castle-forbes
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Hindenburg Disaster Passenger List | Airships.net. (Retrieved 2014, April 11) . Retrieved from http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/hindenburg-passenger-list/
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew
Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html