Surname MacCullum - Meaning and Origin
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MacCullum: What does the surname MacCullum mean?
The last name MacCullum is Scottish in origin and derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacColum," meaning "son of Columb." The prefix "Mac" indicates "son of", while "Columb" is a personal name referring to the dove, a symbol of peace and honor. The name originally might have been given to the son of a person named Columb. This surname traces back to several families in Scotland, especially in the region of Argyll. Conversely, different variations and spellings of the surname MacCullum exist, depending on the regions and families, such as Malcolm, Malcom, MacCallam, McCollum, or Colum.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCullum: Where does the name MacCullum come from?
The surname MacCullum is of Scottish origin and commonly found in the region of Argyll. The name is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Columba," which can be translated into "Dove" in English. Some researchers suggest the name "Columba" was popular due to St. Columba, an Irish monk who Christianized Scotland, indicating a strong religious connection.
The prefix "Mac" means "son of," signifying that the MacCullums are the "sons of Columba." Over time, the spelling has evolved and been Anglicized, resulting in variations such as MacCallam, McCollum, and Malcolm.
Today, the MacCullum surname can be found globally due to Scottish emigration but is most common in Scotland and the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, the surname often appears as McCollum. Despite these changes, the surname MacCullum remains a proud testament to a family's Scottish heritage.
Variations of the surname MacCullum
The surname MacCullum is of Scottish origin and has multiple variants and spellings due to regional differences and phonetic spellings over centuries. Some of the most common variants include McCollum, MacCollum, McCullum, MacColum, McColum, and MacCulam.
A few other surnames that originate from the same Gaelic clan or have similar prefixes are MacCallum, McCallum, and McCollum. These variations often arise from the translation of the original Gaelic name, which was "MacColum". This means "son of Columb", a personal name derived from the Gaelic “cam” meaning crooked and “sron” meaning nose.
It's also worth noting that the originally Irish surname MacCalmont, sometimes rendered as McCalmont or McCollam, may also be related as it shares similar prefixes and could potentially have evolved from the same root name depending upon regional and family specific variations.
Additionally, the names Malcolm and Callum are anglicized versions of the Gaelic name, though they are given names and not surnames. In all of its variations, the surname MacCullum is mostly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and among those of Scottish and Irish descent worldwide.
Famous people with the name MacCullum
- Bruce McCullum: Canadian Football League player.
- David McCullum: Actor, known for his roles in NCIS, Barbershop 2: Back in Business and Into the Blue 2: The Reef.
- Kevin McCallum: Award-winning journalist and editor.
- Mark McCallum: Actor, known for his roles in Hercules, Grey's Anatomy and Grey's Anatomy: B-Team.
- Miles McCallum: Actor, known for his roles in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Hall Pass and Heartless.
- Mike McCallum: Retired professional boxer and two-time World Champion.
- Richard McCallum: British actor, stage manager and director.
- Terry McCallum: Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
- Thomas McCallum: Former New Zealand representative rugby union player.
- Tom McCallum: Retired British drug smuggler, born in Scotland.
- William Patrick McCallum: American jazz musician, vocalist and composer.