The Irish and Scottish surname McDowell 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. Notable bearers of the name include Abram Irvin McDowell (1793–1844) the US politician who was mayor of Columbis, Ohio in 1842 and Graham ,McDowell the professional golfer who was born in Portrush, Northern Ireland on July 30th 1979.