The Irish and Scottish surname McDowel is an anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Dubhghaill meaning “son of Dubhghall,” a byname meaning “dark stranger,” used among the Gaels to distinguish the darker-haired Danes from fair-haired Norwegians. The name is first recorded in Scotland in the 14th Century when Robert M'Kowele, lord of Karsnelohe, in Ayrshire in 1370; and Fergus Macdowylle of Roxburghshire in 1374 are recorded.  In Ireland the name is mainly found in the northern province of Ulster with large numbers in counties Down and Antrim.