Name of the Week

 

Dougal has gained a loveable image in recent years though
its history speaks of Scotish warlords and viking warriors.

 

Origin:

Dougal is the Anglicised form of the Gaelic Dubhgaill, derived from dubh "black, dark" and gall "stranger, foreigner." Dubgaill (Dougal) and Finngaill (Fingal) were used in parallel — meaning "Dark Foreigner" and "Fair Foreigner" respectively — and were used in Irish and Welsh chronicals since the 9th century. The meaning behind these terms is much debated as it is unclear whether these distinctions referred to physical features (e.g. haircolour), weaponry, or dress-colour. The primary assumption, made by most historians, is that Dubgaill represented dark-haired (for Danes), and Finngaill fair-haired (for Norwegians). However, the use of hair-colour as an ethnic identifier, it is now argued, is oversimplistic and anachronistic. Large viking armies were neither Danish nor Norwegian exclusively, and there was no distinction in Old Norse between a "Dane" and a "Norwegian," so why would the distinction have been made elsewhere? From the eleventh century, the two terms did become identified as two seperate cultural groups: the Dubgenti were Danes and the Finngenti were Norwegians. However the definition was attributed long after the terms fell out of use, at a time when there were political distinctions between Norwegians and Danes, most likely demonstrating that a new interpretation was imposed on the earlier terms Dugaill and Finngaill which described 9th century vikings.  There are many alternate meanings for dub and finn. The former can also mean 'gloomy, meloncholy' or 'great, mighty,' while the latter can also mean 'handsome, just, true'. A newer theory argues that Finngaill referred to the 'old' vikings and Dubgaill referred to 'new' invading vikings under different leadership. The 'dark/new' (Dubgaill) vikings were first mentioned in 851 as being led by Ívarr, the 9th-century Norse ruler who was active in Scotland and Ireland.

Usage:

Though Dougal is Irish in origin, it has long been regarded as a Scottish name. As C.M. Younge (writing in 1863) put it, "Dougall and Dugald have been from time immemorial Highland names, and, together with Donald, serve as the national nickname of the Gael among the Lowlanders." The Clan MacDougall took its name from Dougal, son of King Somerled (Dubgall mac Somairle). Somerled was a powerful Norse warlord who became 'King of the Isles'. His son, Dubgall, controlled a large portion of Western Scotland. As well as MacDougall, the name also coined the surnames Dougall, Doyle, Dowell, MacDool and MacDowall.  Dougal came into more general use in Scotland from at least the 12th century and has been in continual use ever since. In the 16th and 17th centuries Dougall (sometimes Dougal, Dowgald and Dugall) was the more common form, though from the 18th century, Dugald was more frequent.  It saw more usage in the late 19th century, culminating in 1900 in a rank of #60 in Scotland. It also saw increasing use in England and Wales By 1950, the tide had turned and neither Dougal or Dugald ranked in the Top 100.  Since 2005, Dougal has had a birth count in Scotland of between 3 and 6 births. It's highest rank was #384 in 2007; its lowest was #613 in 2011.  Similarly, since 1996 in England and Wales, Dougal has had a birth count of between 3 and 11 births, the highest rank being #1756 in 2007 and the lowest #3687 in 2008.   In 2012, Dougal ranked #568 (4 births) in Scotland and #3039 (6 births) in England and Wales.

Famous Bearers:

History:  * Dubgall mac Somairle, a 12th century Scottish nobleman who governed much of western Scotland.  * Dúghall of Lorne (d. 1403), notable Scottish prelate.  * Dougal Graham (c.1724–1779), the skellat bellman of Glasgow and a notable author of Scottish chapbooks. * Dougal Robertson (1924–1992), Scottish author and sailor. Contemporary: * Dougal Haston (1940–1977), Scottish mountaineer; one of the first Britons to climb Everest. * Dougal Dixon (b. 1947), Scottish geologist and author. * Dougal Goodman, OBE, British scientist; chief executive of the Foundation for Science and Technology. Literature and Media: * Dougal, a character in Walter Scott's Rob Roy, the hero's devoted agent.  * Father Dougal McGuire, a character in Father Ted, played by Ardal O'Hanlon. * Dougal, the dog in the English version of the television series The Magic Roundabout.

Variants:

Dubhghall (Gaelic), Dugal, Dugald (Scottish variant)

Pronunciation:

DOO-gəl [key]

Possible diminutives:

Dougie, Douey (Dewi)

Sibling Names:

Elspeth     Daisy     Mirren     Tamsin     Hazel     Eilish  Hamish     Rupert     Gregor     Angus     Tavish      Lachlan

Name Lists:

Clunky Celtic

 

If you like Dougal you may also like:   Douglas, Hector, Duncan, Alastair, Donal, Declan, Fergus, Innes, Graeme, Malcolm

 

Thanks to Lin for requesting this post.