Show ContentsMadill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The old Scottish-Dalriadan name Madill is derived from the personal name Dougal. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Dhughaill and literally means son of Dougal.

Early Origins of the Madill family

The surname Madill was first found in Galloway (Gaelic: Gall-ghaidhealaibh), an area of southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, that formerly consisted of the counties of Wigtown (West Galloway) and Kirkcudbright (East Galloway), where they were descended from Dugall eldest son of Somerled, first Lord of the Isles, and his son Duncan who received the lands of Lorn. The Clan was a bitter foe of Robert the Bruce, who made a narrow escape during one battle with the MacDougals only by discarding his cloak. The brooch of this cloak, now known as the Brooch of Lorn, is a treasured possession of the Chief of the Clan. The Clan faced heavy retaliation and was stripped of their lands once Robert the Bruce secured the Scottish throne. The lands were restored to the Clan upon the death of the king, but passed to the Stewarts in 1388 when the last member of the senior branch of MacDougals died without issue.

Early History of the Madill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Madill research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1175, 1244 and 1316 are included under the topic Early Madill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Madill Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of Madill include MacDougall, MacDowall, MacDowell, MacDugald, MacDill and many more.

Early Notables of the Madill family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Madill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Madill family to Ireland

Some of the Madill family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Madill migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The Madill were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Madill Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Madill, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 1
Madill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Madill, aged 29, who landed in America from Monaghan, in 1899
Madill Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. T. Madill, aged 39, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1901
  • Mana Madill, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Wicklow, in 1903
  • Jessie Madill, aged 47, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1904
  • Mollie Madill, aged 18, who settled in America from Cootehill, in 1905
  • Georgetta Madill, aged 12, who landed in America, in 1908
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Madill migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Madill Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Marjorie Madill, aged 28, who immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, in 1924

New Zealand Madill 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:

Madill Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Madill, aged 23, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rangitikei" in 1884

Contemporary Notables of the name Madill (post 1700) +

  • Maureen Madill (b. 1958), Northern Ireland professional golfer, coach and broadcaster
  • Jeff Madill (b. 1965), Canadian retired ice hockey right winger
  • The Honourable Francis Leslie 'Frank' Madill (b. 1941), Liberal Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly (1986 to 2000)
  • John Ellwood Madill (1915-1999), Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons

RMS Titanic
  • Miss Georgette Alexandra Madill, aged 16, American First Class passenger from St. Louis, Missouri who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 2 2


The Madill 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: Buaidh no bàs
Motto Translation: Victory or death


  1. 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)
  2. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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