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Throughout October we have been celebrating all things Clan MacDougall. We have met some famous faces, visited many sites, and gained great insight into the history of this ancient clan. Finally, we called upon the valued Clan members to share their stories and we had a wonderful response; read the blog to find out more!
Read the MacDougall Stories
Danny MacDougall
We had a lovely contribution from Danny, whose daughter Katie we connected with online and sent in her dad's answers to our MacDougall questions.
Danny, what does your MacDougall heritage mean to you, and are there any specific traditions or ways you connect with it?
"It means going back hundreds of years to the Isle of Barra, we are descendants of the Miller MacDougalls from Barra. Remnants of the Miller MacDougalls grist mill is still present on the Isle of Barra. In terms of connecting with my heritage, the Gaelic language my ancestors left Scotland with still exists within our family today, and is still spoken by myself and my sister. My ancestors left Scotland in the mid to late-1800s, but we still speak the language that they passed down to us."
What have you discovered about your own MacDougall ancestry that has been interesting or surprising?
"One of the things that is interesting is that HF MacDougall descended from Scotland and became an MP in Canadian government. And the "X" ring, an emblem of graduating from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, was designed by a MacDougall from my area - Christmas Island, Nova Scotia. It is said the X ring is one of the most recognized rings in the world, after the Pope's ring."
Clan MacDougall has three tartan variations, do you have a favourite, and how do you like to wear or display it?
"No favorite! Our coat of arms motto is "Conquer or die", which I feel is very powerful."
You are a Gaelic speaker, how important is that to you? Do you live in Scotland or Canada, and how does that influence your MacDougall heritage and sense of community and connection?
"It is important to me to keep the language alive. I live in Canada, in Cape Breton specifically. The Gaelic language influences our heritage because the same identical language is still spoken in Canada as in Scotland. I have participated in Zoom calls in Gaelic with folks from all over the world - there was a gentleman on a Zoom call from Scotland and he told my sister that speaking with me, I had an identical accent as speaking to someone from Scotland. My mother was also interviewed by the BBC on occasion, and she was often cited as having strong Barra Gaelic. I am a crane operator and have been working recently at Beinn Mhàbu, a Gaelic school in Cape Breton, on their new accommodation complex. The Director of Education and accomplished musician, Kenneth McKenzie, was able to make a short video for social media of myself and another contractor on the site, speaking Gaelic, which definitely shows the community how present the Gaelic language is."
Anything else you’d like to share with other MacDougalls and/or those with a Scottish connection about your clan, Scotland and/or the Gaelic language?
"I was lucky enough to visit Scotland with my wife in 2016, and we toured through Glasgow, Edinburgh (walking the Royal Mile several times was a highlight of our trip), Oban, Mull, Iona, Barra, Skye, Mallaig. I have told everyone who has asked me - I was never so far from home yet felt so close to home."
Katie also attached a photo of her grandmother, Catherine MacNeil (above) and you can learn more about her and the family here.
Thank you Danny and Katie, we appreciate your words on what being a MacDougall means to you and sharing your story with us.
Jamie MacDougall
A few years ago our founder Anna had the pleasure of interviewing Jamie MacDougall, a highly accredited singer and performer within the Scottish music industry. They talk about Lauder, a play about Sir Harry Lauder, a legendary Scottish entertainer. This year, 2025, marked the 155th birthday of Sir Harry and Jamie performed the play again to celebrate. We also hear more about Jamie's birthday connection with Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns, and performances at Burns Night events. Watch the video to find out more!
Ashleigh Dougall
Ashleigh sent in her and her husband's family stories connected to Clan MacDougall, which we have enjoyed reading as it's so close to ScotlandShop HQ in Duns!
"Although I married into the Dougall clan, I really do feel like part of it now. I’ve heard so many stories about the Dougalls growing up in Eyemouth - a charming coastal town in the Scottish Borders that’s full of history. Fishing has always been at the heart of the town, and the Dougalls played a big part in that story.
It’s believed that the Dougalls are descended from the MacDougall clan of the West Highlands. Each summer, some of the MacDougalls travelled east to fish, and a few eventually settled in Eyemouth. To blend in with local naming traditions, they dropped the “Mac” and became Dougall. Since few people couldn't read or write at the time, the name’s spelling often changed - sometimes with one ‘L’, sometimes two - depending on whoever was recording it that day.
Fishing has been in the family for generations. My husband’s great-great-grandfather, John Dougall - known as “Forward Jake” to tell him apart from the many other John Dougalls in town - was the last fisherman in the close family before he passed away in 1962. He followed the herring shoals from the west coast down to Yarmouth each summer and fished for white fish on long lines through the winter. His father, William Dougall, owned the William and Alice, which was the first fully decked boat in Eyemouth. Tracing the family tree isn’t easy, though - nearly every man was called William or John, and half the town was a Dougall!
These days, some of the Dougalls have swapped sea air for city life and now live and work in Edinburgh, including me! I’m the Community Manager for Edinburgh Business Stories - a podcast founded in January 2023 by Alex Richards and Alan Smith. Their vision was to uncover the real, untold stories behind Edinburgh’s business community - the funny, chaotic, and heartfelt moments that rarely make the headlines.
I joined the team in August 2025, and my role involves welcoming guests, organising events, and keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. We’ve got some brilliant guests coming up in the New Year, including an interview with Anna, founder of ScotlandShop. I love being part of EBS and can’t wait to see where the next few years take us."
Thank you Ashleigh, and we look forward to hearing the interview with our Anna in the New Year!
Unfortunately October has come to an end, that certainly doesn't mean our love for Clan MacDougall is over, so be sure to get in touch with us if you fancy chatting all things MacDougall!
