McCausland (Mac Ausaláin in Gaelic), meaning "Son of Absolom" is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin. The family claim descent from the Cenel Eoghain race in County Londonderry and Tyrone, a branch of the Ui Neil.
Alternatively, the surname may be an Anglicization from a Gaelic name, as was the case with many Irish surnames, changing to sound more English over the centuries. The surname "Mac Ausaláin" may have an underlying Gaelic personal name, possibly Caisealán, meaning ‘little one of the castle’.
Notable people with the surname include:
Charles McCausland (1898-1965), Irish cricketerRichard Bolton McCausland (1810-1900) Attorney-General of Singapore, and his son of the same name (1864-1933), a notable surgeon.Chris McCausland (1977-), British stand-up comedianEdward McCausland (1865-1936), Australian rugby player and cricketerErnesto McCausland (1961-), Colombian journalist and filmmakerGary McCausland (1968-), Northern Irish television presenter and property developerJohn McCausland (1836–1927), Confederate general in the American Civil WarJohn McCausland (politician) (1735–1804), Irish Member of Parliament for Donegal CountyMaurice McCausland (1872-1938), Irish landowner and political figureNelson McCausland, minister in the Northern Ireland AssemblyMaria McCausland, Colombian singer, songwriter and actress