Douglas (surname) facts for kids

The name Douglas (sometimes spelled Douglass) is a Scottish surname. It comes from the Scottish Gaelic words dubh glas, which mean "black stream." Many places in Scotland share this name, and the surname often comes from these locations. Douglas is also a popular given name for people. Most often, the name refers to Douglas, South Lanarkshire, a place in Scotland where Douglas Castle used to be. This castle was the main home of the powerful Lords of Douglas. In Scottish Gaelic, the given name is Dùbhghlas, and in Irish, it's Dúghlas or Dubhghlas.

People Named Douglas

Many people throughout history have carried the name Douglas. They have made important contributions in various fields, from arts and science to sports and politics.

Artists and Writers

People named Douglas have been creative in many ways, from painting and drawing to writing stories and poems.

Visual Artists

• Aaron Douglas (artist) (1900–1979) was an American artist known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance.
• Andrew Douglas (born 1952) and Stuart Douglas (born 1962) are British photographers and directors.
• John Douglas (English architect) (1830–1911) was a famous English architect.
• Stan Douglas (born 1960) is a Canadian artist who works with film and photography.

Authors and Poets

• Lord Alfred Douglas (1870–1945) was a British poet.
• Amanda Minnie Douglas (1831–1916) wrote many stories for children.
• Ellen Douglas (1921–2012) was an American author.
• Gavin Douglas (1474–1522) was a Scottish poet and a bishop.
• Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890–1998) was an American writer and a strong supporter of protecting nature.
• Norman Douglas (1868–1952) was a British writer.
• William Douglas-Home (1912–1992) was a British playwright.

Musicians and Performers

The Douglas name is also found among talented musicians, singers, and actors.

Music Makers

• Ashanti (entertainer) (Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas) (born 1980) is a well-known American R&B singer.
• Barry Douglas (pianist) (born 1960) is a classical pianist and conductor from Northern Ireland.
• Carl Douglas (born 1942) is a Jamaican-born singer famous for his hit songs.
• Jerry Douglas (born 1955) is an American country and bluegrass musician.
• Roy Douglas (1907–2015) was a British composer and pianist.

Actors and Directors

• Aaron Douglas (actor) (born 1971) is a Canadian actor.
• Angela Douglas (born 1940) is an English actress.
• Bill Douglas (1934–1991) was a Scottish film director.
• Donna Douglas (1933–2015) was an American actress, known for her role in a popular TV show.
• Kirk Douglas (1916–2020) was a very famous American actor, producer, and director.
• Michael Douglas (born 1944) is an American actor and producer, and the son of Kirk Douglas. He is also very well-known.
• Michael Keaton, born Michael John Douglas (born 1951), is an American actor.
• Shirley Douglas (1934–2020) was a Canadian actress and activist.

Leaders and Public Servants

Many people named Douglas have been involved in business, law, and politics, helping to shape society.

Business Leaders

• Donald Wills Douglas Sr. (1892–1981) was an American businessman who founded the Douglas Aircraft company, which made many famous airplanes.
• Gustaf Douglas (born 1938) is a Swedish businessman.
• Walter Donald Douglas (1861–1912) was an American businessman who was a passenger on the Titanic.

Legal Figures

• William O. Douglas (1898–1980) was an American associate justice of the Supreme Court, serving for a very long time.
• Robert M. Douglas (1849–1917) was an American judge.

Political Figures

• Alec Douglas-Home (1903–1995) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister.
• Denzil Douglas (born 1953) served as the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis.
• Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) was a very important American leader who fought against slavery. He was also a writer and speaker.
• Helen Gahagan Douglas (1900–1980) was an American actress and politician.
• James Douglas (governor) (1803–1877) was a Scottish-Canadian governor of the colony of Vancouver Island.
• Paul Douglas (1892–1976) was an American economist and a United States Senator.
• Tommy Douglas (1904–1986) was a Canadian politician and a Premier of Saskatchewan, known for his work on healthcare.

Military and Nobility

The Douglas name has a long history with military leaders and noble families.

Military Figures

• Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglas (1286–1330), also known as James 'the Good', was a Scottish soldier and knight who fought in the Scottish wars of independence.
• General Sir Howard Douglas (1776–1861) was a British general and colonial administrator.
• Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sholto Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside (1893–1969) was a British air force officer.
• James H. Douglas Jr. (1899–1988) served as the United States Secretary of the Air Force.

Nobility

The Douglas family has many members who held noble titles in Scotland.

• Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas (1694–1761) was a Scottish nobleman.
• Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas (c. 1328–1400), known as Archibald the Grim, was a powerful Scottish nobleman.
• Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus (1490–1557) was an important Scottish noble.
• James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton (c. 1525 – 1581) was one of the regents of Scotland when King James VI was a child.
• William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas (1590–1660) was a significant Scottish noble.
• William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry (1637–1695) was a Scottish politician.
• Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton (1903–1973) was an aviator and politician.

Sports and Science

People named Douglas have also excelled in sports and made discoveries in science.

Sports Stars

• Gabby Douglas (born 1995) is an American gymnast and an Olympic gold medalist.
• Hugh Douglas (American football) (born 1971) was an American NFL football player.
• Johnny Douglas (1882–1930) was an English cricketer and Olympic boxer.
• Buster Douglas (born 1960) is an American heavyweight boxer, famous for defeating Mike Tyson.
• Desmond Douglas (born 1955) is a British table tennis player.
• Katie Douglas (basketball) (born 1979) is an American Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) player.
• Troy Douglas (born 1962) is a Dutch sprinter.

Scientists and Thinkers

• David Douglas (1799–1834) was a Scottish botanist who discovered many new plants.
• C. H. Douglas (1879–1952) was a Scottish engineer.
• Jesse Douglas (1897–1965) was an American mathematician.
• Mary Douglas (1921–2007) was a British anthropologist who studied human cultures.
• Vibert Douglas (1894–1988) was a Canadian astronomer and the first Canadian woman to become an astrophysicist.
• Iain Douglas-Hamilton (born 1942) is a British zoologist known for his studies of elephants.

Other Notable People

• John E. Douglas (born 1945) is a former FBI agent and criminal profiler who helped understand criminal minds.
• A.S. Douglas (1921–2010) was a British professor of computer science.
• Charlie Douglas (1840–1916) was a New Zealand explorer and surveyor.

Fictional Characters

• Eleanor Douglas is a character in the 2013 young adult novel Eleanor & Park.

See also

• Douglass (surname)