Coats of Arms by House of Names
 
Email To A Friend
Add to favorites   Print   
Decrease Font Size Text Size Increase Font Size
From www.HouseOfNames.com Archives copyright © 2000 - 2009

Origin Displayed: Scottish

Where did the Scottish Douglas family come from? What is the Scottish coat of arms/family crest? When did the Douglas family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

The ancestors of the Douglas family were part of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. They 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."

In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Douglas has been spelled Douglas, Douglass, Dougliss, Dougless, Dowglas, Duglas, Duglass and many more.

First found in Moray, where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

In such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of Douglas: Charles Douglas who settled in New Jersey in 1685; Hugh Douglas settled in Virginia in 1635; John Douglas settled in Virginia in 1655; Lee William Douglas settled in Virginia in 1655.

Motto Translated: Never behind.

For more information on the last name Douglas, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.


Suggested Readings for the name Douglas
  • A Branch of the Douglas Family With Its Maryland & Virginia Connections by Harry Wright Newman.

Some noteworthy people of the name Douglas
  • Aaron Douglas (1900-1979), American artist
  • Stephen Arnold Douglas (1813-1861), American statesman and the Democratic Party nominee for President in 1860
  • Frederick Douglas (1818-1895), an American abolitionist, orator and journalist
  • Donald Wills Douglas (1892-1981), American aircraft industrialist and founder of the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1921 (the company later merged into McDonnell Douglas Corporation)
  • Kirk Douglas (1916-1861), American actor and film producer
  • Michael Douglas (1944-1807), American actor and producer and two-time Academy Award-winner
  • William Orville Douglas (1898-1980), American Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
  • Donna Douglas (b. 1933), American character actress best-known for her role as Elly May Clampett in the long-running television series The Beverly Hillbillies
  • David Douglas (1798-1834), Scottish botanist
  • George Norman Douglas (1868-1952), Scottish novelist
  • Robert Douglas (1594-1674), Scottish Presbyterian minister
  • Sir William Fettes Douglas (1822-1891), Scottish landscape painter
  • John Douglas (1844-1900), 9th Marquess of Queensberry, Scottish nobleman
  • Denzil Douglas (b. 1953), Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis
  • James Douglas (1803-1877), Scottish-Canadian governor of the colony of Vancouver Island
  • Norman Douglas (1868-1952), British author
  • Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas (1870-1945), English poet
  • Mary Douglas DBE, FBA (1921-2007), English social anthropologist
  • Sir William Sholto Douglas (1893-1969), English air force officer
  • Keith Douglas (1920-1944), English poet of World War II
  • Lt. Col. Campbell Mellis Douglas (1840-1909), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross

Douglas Clan Badge


Douglas Clan Badge
Douglas Clan Badge

Buy Douglas Clan Badge

A clan is a social group made up of a number of distinct branch-families that actually descended from, or accepted themselves as descendants of, a common ancestor. The word clan means simply children. The idea of the clan as a community is necessarily based around this idea of heredity and is most often ruled according to a patriarchal structure. For instance, the clan chief represented the hereditary "parent" of the entire clan. The most prominent example of this form of society is the Scottish Clan system...

 More

Septs of the Distinguished Name Douglas
Caffie, Cavers, Clendenin, Clendenine, Clendening, Clendenink, Clendennine, Clendenning, Clendennink, Clendining, Clendinnine, Clendinning, Clendinnink, Clenindin, Dawglas, Dawglass, Dawgless, Dawgliss, Dogles, Douglas, Douglase, Douglass, Dougles, Dougless, Douglis, Dougliss, Douglles, Dowglas, Draysdal, Draysdale, Draysdel, Draysdell, Draysdil, Draysdile, Draysdul, Draysdyle, Drisdal, Drisdale, Drisdele, Drisdelle, Drisdil, Drisdile, Drisdul, Drisdyle, Drisedal, Drisedale, Drisedil, Drisedile, Drisedul, Drisedyle and more.

Tell Me More About Family Crests


Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist


We have researched the Douglas family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

 More

Family Crests: Timeline


Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

 More

Family Crests: Elements


In the Douglas coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

 More

Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate


We encourage you to study the Douglas genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

 More


Douglas Family Crest Products


Anniversary products for the name Douglas.
Apparel for the Douglas family crest.
Armorial histories for the name Douglas.
Ceramics showing the Douglas family crest.
Clan Badges for the name Douglas.
Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.
Coat of Arms for the name Douglas.
Downloads featuring the family crest for the surname Douglas.
Family Crest for the name Douglas.
Family Tree showing the Douglas family crest.
Hand Painted Plaques with the coat of arms for the name Douglas.
Keychains with the coat of arms for the name Douglas.
Mouse pads displaying the family crest for the name Douglas.
New Products with the coat of arms for the name Douglas.
Packages proudly displaying the Douglas family crest.
Plaques and Frames with a Douglas coat of arms.
Surname Histories for the name Douglas.
Symbolism emphasing the Douglas family crest.
Travel Mugs revealing the family crest for the surname Douglas.
Popular Products
Armorial History With Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms & Surname History Package
Family Crest Image (jpg) Heritage Series - 300 DPI
Key-chain
Coffee Mug
Armorial History with Frame
Framed Surname History and Coat of Arms
 

The Douglas Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Douglas Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

Tools



Search

  

BBB Reliability Privacy statement HACKER SAFE certified sites prevent over 99% of hacker crime.

Top Sellers

Douglas Armorial History with Coat of Arms
Douglas Armorial History with Coat of Arms

Products

New Products
Downloads
Under $25
$25-$50
Over $50
Top 7 Gifts
Family Reunions
Home   |   Customer Service   |   Site Map   |   Surname Search   |   How To Buy