Where Does the Douglass Surname Come From?

Douglass is an established spelling of the Scottish surname Douglas. It is a place-based name: “From Douglas in Lanarkshire ("black water")”.

Douglass and Douglas

Douglass adds a patronymic ending to Douglas, meaning ‘son of’ or ‘of the family of’. Before spelling was standardised, one family could appear under several forms. You may also find the name written Dougall and Duglas.

Douglass coat of arms

There is no single Douglass family crest for every bearer. Herald Lab researches the arms historically associated with the name and explains whose they were.

For the full story, order the Douglass surname pack.