Duncan is an Anglicised form of Irish Donnchadh. One of the first people to bear the name was king of Dál Riata Dúnchad mac Dubáin, who was possibly the grandfather of Fiannamail ua Dúnchado-Fiannamail O'Dúnchado. The final letter n in the Anglicised Duncan seems to be a result of confusion in the Latin form of the name—Duncanus—with the Gaelic word ceann, meaning "head". One opinion is that the Gaelic Donnchadh is composed of the elements donn, meaning "dark or dark-haired man" or "chieftain"; and cath, meaning "battle", together meaning "dark-haired or dark warrior". For the etymology of the surname Duncan this web page cites: Dictionary of American Family Names. Another opinion is that the Gaelic Donnchadh is composed of the elements donn, meaning "brown"; and chadh, meaning "chief" or "noble".
Variations Old Irish Modern Irish Hiberno-English Scottish Gaelic Scottish English Donnchadh Donncha Donagh Donnchadh Duncan
Notable people
A Duncan Aldred (born 1970), British businessman Duncan Alexander (born 2000), English podcaster Duncan Orestes Alguire (1853–1925), Canadian politician Duncan Allan (born 1991), Kenyan cricketer Duncan Anderson (1931–1996), Australian rules footballer and cricketer Duncan Stewart of Ardsheal (1732–1793), 10th Chief of the Clan Stewart of Appin
B
Duncan Baird (born 1979), American politician Duncan Baker (born 1979), British Conservative politician Duncan Ball (born 1941), American-born Australian author
Duncan Beattie (born 1929), Canadian politician Duncan Bell (actor) (born 1955), Scottish actor Duncan Bell (historian) (born 1976), British academic Duncan Bell (rugby union) (born 1974), England international rugby union player Duncan Birmingham, American writer Duncan Black (1908–1991), Scottish economist Duncan Blaikie (born 1975), Rugby player Duncan M. Blair (1896–1944), Scottish anatomist Duncan Bluck (1927–2015), British businessman
Duncan Bowett (born 1971), Australian-born English cricketer Duncan Gordon Boyes (1846–1869), English Victoria Cross recipient Duncan Bradshaw (born 1986), English cricketer Duncan Brannan (born 1970), American voice actor
Duncan Browne (1947–1993), English singer-songwriter Duncan Archibald Bruce (1932–2019), American novelist Duncan Buchanan (1935–2012), South African Anglican bishop Duncan Burns (born 2000), British wrestler Duncan Burton, British nurse administrator
C
Duncan Cameron (shinty player), 1994-2011 president of the Camanachd Association Duncan D. Cameron, British microbiologist Duncan Inglis Cameron (1927–2006), Scottish university administrator Duncan Campbell (artist) (born 1972), Irish video artist Duncan Campbell (British Army officer, died 1837) (1763–1837), British Army officer and politician Duncan Campbell (died 1758), British Army officer Duncan Campbell (inventor) (born 1955), Canadian co-inventor of murderball Duncan Campbell (journalist, born 1944) (1944–2025), British journalist and author Duncan Campbell (journalist, born 1952) (born 1952), British investigative journalist Duncan Campbell (revivalist) (1898–1972), Scottish evangelist Duncan Campbell (settler) (1781–1856), British settler in South Africa Duncan Campbell (snooker player) (born 1966), Scottish snooker player Duncan Campbell (snowboarder) (born 1997), New Zealand snowboarder Duncan Campbell (soothsayer) (1680–1730), Scottish soothsayer Duncan Campbell (trumpeter) (1926–2013), British trumpeter Duncan Campbell (Unionist politician) (1876–1916), British politician Duncan B. Campbell (born 1950), British scholar Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell (1390–1453), 15th-century Scottish nobleman and politician Duncan J. Campbell (1845–1882), Canadian politician
Duncan Mackintosh, 31st Chattan (1884–1966), British military personnel Duncan Cheatle, British businessman Duncan Chessell (born 1970), Australian geologist Duncan Chisholm (born 1968), Musical artist Duncan Chiu (born 1974), Hong Kong politician Duncan Chow (born 1978), Hong kong actor Duncan Clark (athlete) (1915–2003), Scottish hammer thrower Duncan Clark (surgeon) (1759–1808), loyalist in Halifax, Nova Scotia Duncan W. Clark (1910–2007), American health specialist
Duncan Cooper (cricketer) (1813–1904), Indian-born Australian cricketer Duncan Cooper (footballer) (1880–1951), English footballer Duncan Brown Cooper (1844–1922), American journalist, publisher, politician Duncan Coutts (born 1969), Canadian musician
Duncan Crowie (born 1963), South African soccer player Duncan Forbes, 3rd of Culloden (1644–1704), Scottish politician Duncan Forbes, 5th of Culloden (1685–1747), Scottish judge and politician
Duncan Curry (1812–1894), American baseball pioneer and businessman
D Duncan Dalmao (born 1978), Canadian ice hockey player Duncan Daniels (born 1983), American singer, songwriter
E
F
Duncan Fernie (born 1978), Scottish curler Duncan Finlayson (1867–1925), Canadian politician Duncan Finlayson (governor of Assiniboia), Canadian politician Duncan Fisher (1962–1984), Australian rower Duncan Fletcher (born 1948), Zimbabwean cricket coach
Duncan Forbes (Royal Marines officer), British Royal Marines officer Duncan Forestar, Scottish courtier and financial administrator Duncan B. Forrester (1933–2016), Scottish theologian Duncan Fowles (born 1893), Rugby player Duncan Fraser (actor), Canadian actor Duncan Fraser (moderator) (1903–1977), Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Duncan Cameron Fraser (1845–1910), Canadian politician Duncan Free (born 1973), Australian rower Duncan McArthur Funk (1832–1911), American politician
G Duncan Garner (born 1974), New Zealand right-wing TV personality and journalist
Duncan Graham (British politician) (1867–1942), British politician Duncan Graham (Canadian politician) (1845–1934), Canadian politician Duncan Graham (writer) (born 1938), Australian-trained journalist and blogger Duncan Archibald Graham (1882–1974), Canadian physician and academic Duncan Grant (1885–1978), Scottish painter and designer Duncan Grant (rower) (born 1980), New Zealand rower Duncan Green (aid expert), Development specialist Duncan Green (British Army officer) (1925–2019), Indian Army officer Duncan Green (priest) (born 1952), British priest Duncan Greenlees (1899–1966), British writer and theosophist Duncan Greenwood (1919–1992), English playwright Duncan Joseph Greenwood (1932–2010), British plant and agricultural scientist Duncan Gregg (1910–1989), American rower Duncan Gregory (1813–1844), Scottish mathematician Duncan Greive (born 1980), New Zealand magazine editor Duncan Grinnell-Milne (1896–1973), English First World War pilot and POW
H Duncan van Haaren, Dutch Paralympic swimmer Duncan Haldane (born 1951), British physicist
Duncan Hall (1925–2011), Australian international rugby league footballer Duncan Hallas (1925–2002), British politician Duncan Hames (born 1977), British Former Liberal Democrat politician
Duncan Harvey (bobsleigh) (born 1981), Australian bobsledder Duncan Harvey (British Army officer) (1882–1957), Ireland international rugby union player
Duncan Heath (born 1946), British talent agent Duncan Heath (cricketer) (born 1981), English cricketer
Duncan Hines (1880–1959), American businessman, writer, food critic Duncan Hodge (born 1974), Scottish international rugby union player & coach Duncan Hollis (born 1970), American legal scholar Duncan Home (1828–1857), Recipient of the Victoria Cross Duncan Honeybourne (born 1977), Musical artist Duncan Hooper (1912–1990), British/Australian journalist Duncan Hopkins (born 1967), British composer Duncan Horton (born 1967), English footballer Duncan Huisman (born 1971), Dutch racing driver Duncan D. Hunter (born 1976), American politician Duncan L. Hunter (born 1948), American politician Duncan Selby Hutcheon (1879–1954), Canadian politician Duncan Hutchison (1904–1973), Scottish footballer
I Duncan Idehen (born 2002), English footballer Duncan Montgomery Gray III, Episcopal bishop Duncan Ingraham (1802–1891), American Navy officer Duncan Innes (born 2000), British rower Duncan Ironmonger (1931–2024), Australian economist Duncan Irschick (born 1969), American evolutionary ecologist Duncan Irvine (1851–1914), Scottish international rugby union player Duncan Ivison (born 1965), Political scientist and academic
J Duncan James (born 1978), English singer and actor Duncan James (Australian singer), Musical artist Duncan Airlie James (born 1961), Scottish kickboxer and actor Duncan Jarman (born 2000), British makeup artist
Duncan Jessiman (1923–2006), Canadian politician
K
Duncan Kerr (born 1952), Australian politician Duncan Kgopolelo (born 1974), Motswana footballer Duncan Kibet (born 1978), Kenyan long-distance runner Duncan F. Kilmartin (born 1942), American politician Duncan Koech (born 1981), Kenyan long-distance runner
L
Duncan Lewis (born 1953), Australian military officer
Duncan Lindsay (1903–1972), Scottish footballer Duncan Lindsay (Australian footballer) (1902–1967), Australian rules footballer Duncan Livingstone (1877–1964), Scottish poet Duncan Lloyd (born 1977), English musician Duncan Longden (1826–1904), Australian politician Duncan Lorimer (born 1969), Astrophysicist Duncan Lunan (born 1945), Scottish writer
M
Duncan MacArthur (Ontario politician), Canadian politician Duncan MacDonald (athlete) (born 1949), American long-distance runner Duncan MacDonald (politician) (1885–1977), Australian politician Duncan Black MacDonald (1863–1943), American orientalist
Duncan MacDougall (doctor) (1866–1920), American physician Duncan MacDowall (born 1963), English footballer Duncan MacEwan (born 1958), Scottish footballer Duncan Macfarlan (1771–1857), Scottish minister Duncan Macfarlane (1827–1903), New Zealand merchant and magistrate Duncan Alwyn Macfarlane (1857–1941), British Army general Duncan MacGillivray (born 1976), Scottish international rugby league footballer
Duncan MacGregor (footballer) (born 1952), Australian rules footballer Duncan MacGregor (rugby union), Scottish international rugby union player Duncan MacInnes (1897–1970), Scottish Anglican bishop Duncan A. MacInnes (1885–1965), American chemist Duncan Sayre MacInnes (1860–1918), British Army general
Duncan Mackintosh, 11th of Mackintosh, Scottish clan chief (died 1496) Duncan MacLeod (footballer) (born 1949), Scottish footballer Duncan MacLeod (rugby union) (1866–1907), Scottish international rugby union player Duncan MacMillan (Alberta politician) (1887–1962), Canadian politician Duncan Macmillan (art historian) (born 1939), Scottish art historian Duncan Macmillan (athlete) (1890–1963), British sprinter Duncan MacMillan (businessman), American mathematician, philanthropist and businessman Duncan MacMillan (Nova Scotia politician) (1897–1969), Nova Scotia politician
Duncan Macmillan (playwright) (born 1980), English playwright and theatre director Duncan MacNaughton (1892–1973), Scottish lawyer and astronomer Duncan MacPherson (1966–1989), Canadian ice hockey player Duncan Macpherson (1924–1993), Canadian editorial cartoonist
Duncan Kenneth MacTavish (1899–1963), Canadian politician Duncan Madsen, Scottish international rugby union player Duncan Maguire (born 1989), Canada international rugby union player Duncan Mahlangu (born 1983), South African taekwondo practitioner Duncan Mansfield (born 1778), United States Marine
Duncan McColl, American pastor and former professional footballer Duncan Fletcher McCuaig (1889–1950), Canadian politician Duncan John McCuaig (1882–1960), Canadian politician and farmer Duncan McCue (born 1971), CBC radio and television personality
Duncan McDonald (electrical engineer) (1921–1997), Scottish engineer and businessman Duncan McDonald (English footballer), English footballer