Most of Macgill's Common is located on Athol, a tract that was patented to Reverend James Macgill in 1732. Some parts closer to the Little Patuxent River are located on Brown's Hopyard, which was patented to Robert Brown in 1725. The village takes its name from the Reverend James Macgill, first pastor of Christ Church Guilford, and resident of Athol Manor. Prominent heir, land planner and Judge James MacGill lived in the house that later became The King's Contrivance restaurant as a child, selling the 780-acre estate and home to Kingdon Gould for development through a company named Overlook Inc., after his personal Overlook Farm Estate.