Show ContentsDouthay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Picts were the ancient Scottish tribe where the ancestors of the Douthay family lived. The name Douthay comes from the Gaelic Mac Gillean Dubhthaigh. "The name may commemorate S. Dubhthach of Tain. It is a shortened Anglicization of MacGille Dubhthaigh 'son of the servant of Dubhthach.' The Gaelic name of Tain is Baile Dhubhthaich, 'Dubhthach's town.' " 1

Early Origins of the Douthay family

The surname Douthay was first found in Kincardineshire (Gaelic: A' Mhaoirne), a former county on the northeast coast of the Grampian region of Scotland, and part of the Aberdeenshire Council Area since 1996, where they held a family seat from early times.

Early History of the Douthay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Douthay research. Another 264 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1492, 1500, 1598, 1612, 1744 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Douthay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Douthay Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. Douthay has been written Duthie, Duthe, Duthey, Duthy, Dutthy, Dutthie, Dutthe and many more.

Early Notables of the Douthay family

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

Migration of the Douthay family

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Douthay: George Duthie who settled in Pennsylvania in 1750.



The Douthay 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: Data fata secutus
Motto Translation: Following my destiny.


  1. 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)


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