Douglas

From Namespedia - Names Meaning and Origins

Name: Douglas

Gender: Masculine

Location: Europe

Language: Scottish

Thematic: Unknown Thematic

Meaning: Dark green water.

Comments: Douglas is the Anglicized form of what was originally a river name. It is thought to derive from the Scottish Gaelic words dubh, meaning 'black' or 'dark', and glas, meaning 'green' or 'grey'. The Douglas Water is a river in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, and a tributary of the Clyde. It flows through the village of Douglas and past the remains of Douglas Castle, a stronghold of the powerful Douglas family, who took their surname from the river. Douglas has been used as a given name since the 16th century.