| ![Show Contents]() McDow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the McDow familyThe surname McDow was first found in Berwickshire where the name is likely from the Gaelic, Dhu (dubh), Anglicized as "black" or from "don or doo," the Scottish for dove or pigeon. 1 Another source postulates the name could have been a variant of Dove or Dawe. The first on record of the family was Ede Douw who held land in 'vico boreali,' Edinburgh, 1366. Four years later, John Dowe was a witness at an inquest taken at Berwick-on-Tweed, 1370. "Dow is not uncommon in Perthshire appearing there in 1497, when Robert Dow held a land in Perth." 2 Further to the south, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Agnes Dowe; Hgo Dowe; Alicia Dowe; and Adam Dowe-man, the servant of Dow. 3 Turning back the clock further, we found Robertus filius Duue, Doue listed in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166 and Ralph, William Duue were listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1197. 4 Early History of the McDow familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McDow research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1370, 1500, 1510, 1516, 1527, 1555, 1561, 1574, 1580, 1616, 1618, 1630, 1640, 1645, 1658, 1665 and 1695 are included under the topic Early McDow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McDow Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: McDow, Dow, Dowe, Dove, Dows, Dowes, Doves and others. Early Notables of the McDow familyNotable amongst the family name during their early history was Henry Dove, (1640-1695), Archdeacon of Richmond, son of a clergyman, born in 1640, and elected from Westminster to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1658. He was also a politician, Mayor of Salisbury, Wiltshire in 1616.John Dove (1561-1618), was 'a Surrey man, born of plebeian parents,' and scholar of St. Peter's College, Westminster, whence...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McDow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the McDow family to Ireland
Some of the McDow 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. Migration of the McDow familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Matthew Dow who settled in Salem in the year 1640 followed by Francis Dow, both came from Salisbury in Wiltshire. Many of the Dow family name settled in New Hampshire, and were from Somerset, England. John Dow settled in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1635..
| Contemporary Notables of the name McDow (post 1700) | + |
- Thomas F. McDow, American professor in the Department of History, Ohio State University
- William McDow, American researcher at Environmental Defense, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Ronald A McDow, American researcher who holds patents for using cryogenic agents for treating skin lesions
- Nick McDow, American actor, known for The Unit (2006), NCIS (2003) and Lie to Me (2009)
- Ebony McDow, American actress, known for her work on Flags on the Field (2015), Taboo-The Unthinkable Act (2016) and Demented Love (2016)
- John McDow, American homesteader, founder of Dow, in Jersey County, Illinois in 1883
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: Patiens
Motto Translation: Patient.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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England
Ireland
