Doig

This is an anglicized form of the Olde Scots Gaelic name Mac Gille Doig - a compound of the elements "mac" meaning "son of", "gille", a servant, plus the personal name Doig, a short form of Cadog. The name therefore translates as "son of St. Cadog's servant". In Scotland, the name appears most often on record in places where St. Cadog was commemorated. It is first recorded in the latter half of the 14th century (see below). In the 15th century, the name was spelt Dog. Other modern variants of the name are Doag, Doeg, Doak, and Doidge. One Alexander Dog was cannon of Inchmahome in Menteith (1491). The spelling Doig appears in the sixteen hundreds. Thomas Doig held land in Craigmakerone in 1644 (Records at Scon). On June 10th 1682, Barbara, daughter of John and Margaret Doig, was christened at Edinburgh parish church, Edinburgh, Midlothian and Walter, son of Henrie and Christian Doig was christened at the same place on October 10th 1690. An interesting namebearer was Dr. David Doig (1719-1800), rector of Stirling Grammar School whom Burns met on his Highland tour. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alexander Doge, vicar of Dunnychtyne, which was dated 1372, in the "Registrum Episcopatus Brechinensis", Edinburgh, during the reign of King Robert 11 of Scotland 1371-1390. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.