MacDowell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

The MacDowell family name comes from the personal name Dougal. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Dhughaill and literally means "son of Dougal." The personal name Dougal, meaning "dark stranger."

Early Origins of the MacDowell family

The surname MacDowell 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 held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the MacDowell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacDowell research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1659 is included under the topic Early MacDowell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacDowell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacDowall, MacDowell, McDowell, MacDill, McDill and others.

Early Notables of the MacDowell family

More information is included under the topic Early MacDowell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacDowell family to Ireland

Some of the MacDowell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacDowell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacDowell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Sander MacDowell, who arrived in New England in 1651-1652 1
William MacDowell, who landed in Maryland in 1655 1

MacDowell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alexander, Andrew, Elizabeth, James, Janet, Jane, John, Margaret, Peter, and William MacDowell all, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767

MacDowell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander MacDowell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 1
John MacDowell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 1
Charles, Daniel, David, Hugh, James, John, Thomas, and William MacDowell all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870

MacDowell migration to Australia +

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

MacDowell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mary Macdowell, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Rajah" 2
Sarah Macdowell, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Rajah" 2
Sarah MacDowell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajah" in 1849 2

Contemporary Notables of the name MacDowell (post 1700) +

Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860-1908), American composer and pianist of the Romantic period, one of the first members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1904
Jay MacDowell, former professional American NFL football player
Marian MacDowell (1857-1956), American pianist, founder and developer of the MacDowell Colony
Rosalie Anderson "Andie" MacDowell (b. 1958), American Golden Camera winning, three-time Golden Globe nominated actress and model
Patrick MacDowell RA (1799-1870), Northern Irish sculptor
Fernando MacDowell (1945-2018), Brazilian engineer and politician
Lieutenant-Colonel Thain Wendell MacDowell (1890-1960), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross during the First World War for his actions at Vimy Ridge 3
Charles MacDowell, Canadian Chemist

Citations +

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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAJAH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Rajah.htm
Thain MacDowell. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Thain MacDowell. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thain_Wendell_MacDowell