Macdowell

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A Scottish-derived family name carried by several notable people, including the actress Andie MacDowell and the composer Edward Alexander
2. A surname of Scottish origin shared by a number of well-known figures in film, music and other fields
3. Family name of Scottish descent, borne by public figures such as the American actress Andie and the composer Edward

Etymology: MacDowell is a Scottish surname, and the word is a Scots and English spelling of the Gaelic "Mac Dhubhghaill," meaning "son of Dubhghall." The personal name Dubhghall, now usually rendered Dougal, is built from "dubh," meaning dark or black, and "gall," meaning foreigner or stranger. The name is often read as "dark foreigner," which probably referred to someone of Scandinavian descent, though the exact origin of the first bearer is uncertain. The surname is strongly tied to Galloway in southwest Scotland, where the MacDowell family held land and where the name is still common. Its spelling varies widely in records, so the same family may appear as MacDougall, MacDowall, or MacDowell, depending on the scribe and the period.