Douglas

Douglas comes from a Scottish surname that was itself taken from a place name, derived from the Gaelic elements dubh, meaning dark or black, and glais, meaning stream or river. The place gave rise to the powerful Scottish clan Douglas, whose medieval prominence helped spread the name into general use as a given name across Scotland and eventually the English-speaking world. It was particularly popular in the twentieth century in English-speaking countries. Related forms include Douglass, and the name is occasionally given as Duglas or Duglass.