Map of Ireland showing where the Mcdowell arms are recorded
The Mcdowell arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Mcdowell arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Mcdowell Family in Ireland
The surname McDowell is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Dubhghaill, which translates to son of the dark stranger. This name originally identified families of Norse-Gaelic descent who settled along the western coast of Scotland and the surrounding islands. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Dublin. Records from 1645 confirm that individuals bearing this name were active in the city during a period of intense political and social upheaval in Ireland. As the family moved from their ancestral homes in Scotland to urban centers like Dublin, they integrated into the professional and merchant classes of the time. This transition reflects the broader movement of people across the Irish Sea during the seventeenth century, as families sought new opportunities in the growing administrative and commercial hubs of the era.
Mcdowell Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Dubhgall
Derived from the Gaelic elements for dark or black and stranger.
This name
McdowellRefers to the son of the dark stranger, historically denoting Norse invaders.
also spelled
Macdougall
McDowell
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
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