Douglas

Douglas is a surname and given name of Scottish origin. It derives from the place name Douglas in Lanarkshire, from Gaelic elements that are commonly interpreted as meaning “dark water” or “black stream.” The name is associated with the historic Clan Douglas, one of Scotland’s most influential noble families in the Middle Ages. As a given name, Douglas gained popularity in English-speaking regions in the 19th and 20th centuries and remains in use today.

Notable people with the surname or given name include author Douglas Adams, actor Kirk Douglas, actor Michael Douglas, and General Douglas MacArthur. The name appears across many fields, including politics, science, and the arts, reflecting its broad adoption in English-speaking cultures.

Douglas is widely used as a place name. The capital city of the Isle of Man is Douglas. In North America, towns named Douglas exist in several states, such as Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan, and numerous counties are named Douglas County in multiple states. The name also appears in Canada, Australia, and elsewhere for geographic features and communities.

Beyond names, Douglas refers to other uses. The Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is a tall evergreen tree native to western North America and a major timber species. The Douglas Aircraft Company, an American aerospace manufacturer, merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas, which later merged with Boeing in 1997. The term Douglas also appears in ships, institutions, and businesses bearing the name.