McDowell is a surname. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Dubhghaill. Notable people with the surname include:
Charles S. McDowell (1871–1943), interim governor of AlabamaCharles T. McDowell (born 1921), American academic and military officerDerek McDowell (born 1958), Irish politicianEphraim McDowell (1771–1830), American physicianFred McDowell (1904–1972), American blues singer and guitar playerGraeme McDowell (born 1979), Northern Irish professional golferIrvin McDowell (1818–1885), Union army generalJack McDowell (born 1960), former Major League Baseball pitcherJack McDowell (born circa 1922-23), Northern Irish political activistJames McDowell (1795–1851), politician from VirginiaJames F. McDowell (1825-887), politician from PennsylvaniaJames F. McDowell (born 1862), politician from WisconsinJohn McDowell (born 1942), English philosopherJohnny McDowell (1915–1952), American Formula One driverJosh McDowell (born 1939), American Christian apologist and authorKelly McDowell (born circa 1953), mayor of El Segundo, CaliforniaLinda McDowell (born 1949), British geographerMalcolm McDowell (born 1943), English actorMatthew McDowell, Steamboat owner and builderMichael McDowell (politician) (born 1951), barrister and former Irish politicianMichael McDowell (actor) (born 1964), Northern Irish actorMichael McDowell (author) (1950-1999), American novelist and screenwriterMichael P. Kube-McDowell (born 1954), American science fiction writerMichael McDowell (racing driver) (born 1984), American race car driverOddibe McDowell (born 1962), former Major League Baseball playerPaul McDowell (1905–1962), American rowerPaul McDowell (actor) (1931–2016), English actor and screenwriterRobert M. McDowell (born 1963), former U.S. Federal Communications CommissionerRoger McDowell (born 1960), Major League baseball player and coachR.B. McDowell (1913–2011), Professor Emeritus of History, Trinity College DublinSam McDowell (born 1942), Major League baseball pitcherThomas McDowell (born 1977), convicted murdererWilliam Fraser McDowell (1858–1937), American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church