Surname MacCullom - Meaning and Origin
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MacCullom: What does the surname MacCullom mean?
The last name MacCullom is of Scottish origin, derived mainly from the highlands of Scotland. It is a Celtic name that has evolved over time in its spelling and pronunciation. The term "Mac" in Scottish and Irish surnames means "son of". From this, the last name MacCullom can be interpreted as "Son of Cullom".
The exact meaning of "Cullom" is unclear but it's believed to be linked to Columba/Columb, a notable Irish saint who spread Christianity in Scotland. Some sources suggest Cullom/Columb may mean "dove" in Gaelic. So, MacCullom might stand for 'Son of the Dove', figuratively suggesting a connection to peace, spirituality, or messenger, as doves are often symbolically portrayed.
However, interpretations may vary as variations in spelling of Scottish surnames were quite common. Other variations of this surname include: MacCullum, MacCollum, MacColum, and Malcolm. All these names point to the same origin, representing descendants from a common ancestor.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCullom: Where does the name MacCullom come from?
The surname MacCullom, also spelled McCollom or McCullom, is of Scottish and Irish origin. It derives from the Old Gaelic "MacColum", a compound of the elements "Mac", meaning "son of", and the personal name "Colm", derived from "colm", a dove. The surname indicates a son of Colm.
The surname first appeared in Argyllshire, a region in Highland of western Scotland. In the face of continued regional conflicts in Britain, many Scottish families were forced to emigrate from their original Scottish homelands. Therefore, the MacCullom name was disseminated to places like Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and other areas around the world.
Today, the surname is most common in the United States, specifically in the regions of New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the South. It is also fairly common in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of Canada. However, the surname like many others is spread all around the world due to globalization and migration. The variations in the spelling of the surname can often lead to it being less common in a particular region.
Variations of the surname MacCullom
The surname MacCullom originated from Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Cullam" or "Columba."
Several variants and spellings of the name MacCullom exist due to historical context and diverse dialects. These versions have adapted and evolved over time and through migration. Some variations include McCollum, McCullum, MacCullum, MacCollum, MacCullem, McCullom, McCullem, MacCulleme, McCullam, MacCullam, McCollam, and MacCollam.
Different branches of the family used different spellings, leading to further variations. In spite of these changes, the essence of the root name is still discernible in these iterations, showing a common ancestry or origin.
The short form of the term such as Cullam, Cullum or Collum is also found in many cases, representing the same surname. Often “Mac” or “Mc” was added or dropped from the name indicating “son of” in Gaelic.
Also due to the family's migration especially to Northern Ireland during the plantation of Ulster and to North America during the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname has been losing or gaining prefixes, inserted or removed "O", or changed the spelling to fit with the local languages or simply errors in records keeping. These evolutions have contributed to the rich variety of this surname.
Famous people with the name MacCullom
- Justin MacCullom: Actor, best known for his performance in the Hallmark Channel original movie Christmas Cookies (2016).
- Jonathan MacCullom: Lead singer of the Scottish pop rock band ¡Forward, Russia!
- John MacCullom: British jazz musician, composer and arranger.
- Colin MacCullom: Canadian novelist.
- Sean MacCullom: Professional ice hockey player.
- Alastair MacCullom: British writer, journalist and sports broadcaster.
- Mairi MacCullom: Actress, best known for her roles on the UK television series, Scot Squad and Young Geordie.
- William MacCullom: Former English cricketer.
- Paulina MacCullom: British model, actress and fashion designer. 10.Thomas MacCullom: Canadian voice actor and dubbing director.