Surname MacCalim - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacCalim: What does the surname MacCalim mean?
The surname MacCalim is of Scottish origin and it is a variant of the surname McCallum, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Coluim" or "Calum." This name is composed of two elements – "Cal", meaning bald, and "Um," meaning dove. Essentially, it may be translated as meaning “the son of Calum”, or "the son of the Bald Dove". The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in Christianity, therefore, many believe this surname might be associated with a spiritual or religious family in Scottish history. The McCallums were a sept, or subordinate clan, in traditional Scottish clan structure that was associated with larger, more powerful clans, specifically the Clan Malcolm or MacCallum, from the Argyll region of Scotland. Please note that researching into surname meanings often lead to broad or general results, and the true meaning and history of your surname could differ based on your own family history.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCalim: Where does the name MacCalim come from?
The surname MacCalim seems to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic surname MacCallum, which is itself derived from the given name Callum, meaning "dove". The prefix "Mac" in Gaelic surnames denotes "son of". The surname is therefore interpreted as "son of Callum". Tradition suggests that the MacCallums originated from a 14th-century Scotsman named Callum, who was a descendant of the O'Duinns, an ancient family from Ireland.
Due to historical emigration, it is possible to find people with similar surnames in different parts of the world today. However, the surname is not very common, so it's challenging to determine where it is most prevalent. It is most likely that people with this surname would be found in countries with a high number of Scottish descendants such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, please note that the spelling "MacCalim" is quite rare and may not be recognized widely, even in these countries. The more common spellings are MacCallum or McCallum.
Variations of the surname MacCalim
The surname MacCalim appears to be less common and sourcing exact variants or surnames of the same origin proves challenging. However, considering the format of the name, it presumably has roots in Gaelic surnames, especially considering the "Mac" prefix which denotes "son of" in Irish and Scottish surnames.
The name could be a variation of several Gaelic surnames, which include MacCallum, MacCallam, McCallum, and McCollum. The name McAlum could also be relevant as it has a similar construction and phonetic similarity.
These surnames all involve the prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc', which means 'son of', followed by a variety of personal names, in these cases probably including the names Callum, Colm, and Columba, which are all traditional Gaelic names.
Please note that surname etymology is a complex field, and specific knowledge often requires specialist expertise in linguistics and historical records as surnames can evolve over time due to influences such as regional dialects, immigration, and simple spelling mistakes. Therefore, while these suggestions seem possible, they are speculative without more context or research.
Famous people with the name MacCalim
- Shane MacCalim: American entrepreneur and founder of the cleaning supplies brand, JAWS.
- Meghan MacCalim: Scottish Olympic rower and silver medalist.
- Bethany MacCalim: American author and co-creator of the bestselling series “Mackinac Island Magic.”
- Justin MacCalim: American country singer-songwriter and member of the band “The MacCalim Boys.”
- Llewellyn MacCalim: Welsh artist and filmmaker, best known for his documentary “The New Age of Rural Ireland.”
- Danial MacCalim: Canadian hip-hop artist whose album “Take Flight” was nominated for a Juno Award in 2019.
- Mason MacCalim: Australian professional rugby player, currently playing for the Sydney Roosters.
- James MacCalim: British actor, narrator, and voice of the video game “Assassin’s Creed.”
- Chris MacCalim: American professional basketball player, currently playing in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Zara MacCalim: American ballet dancer, founding member of the Miami City Ballet.