Surname Malcolm - Meaning and Origin

A Heritage Unveiled: Piecing Together the Malcolm Surname Through My iGENEA DNA Test Results

Results from my iGENEA DNA test illuminated a rich, global, and deep historical lineage associated with the surname Malcolm. From ancient Celtic populations of highland Scotland to the first Neolithic farmers of Europe, and nomadic Yamnaya people of the Eurasian Steppes, the findings stitch together a mesmerizing patchwork quilt of heritage.

T. Malcolm

Malcolm: What does the surname Malcolm mean?

The surname Malcolm is of Scottish origin and can be traced back to the ancient Celtic culture of Scotland. It is a derivative of the Old Gaelic name "Mael Coluim," which means "devotee of St. Columba." St. Columba was a prominent saint and missionary of the Irish church, who is particularly revered in Scotland. Hence, the name Malcolm identifies a familial line of people devoted to St. Columba. The surname is first found in Argyllshire, where they held a family seat from early times. Now, the Malcolm family name is spread across the globe, with sizeable populations found in the USA, Scotland, England, Canada, and Australia.

Malcolm: Where does the name Malcolm come from?

The surname Malcolm is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic personal name "Maol-Coluim" which means "devotee of St. Columba". St. Columba is one of the patron saints of Scotland and has had a significant influence on the country's history, hence the popularity of the name.

The name was notably borne by several kings of Scotland, including Malcolm III, who reigned from 1058 to 1093 and was known as "Malcolm Canmore". His reign marked the beginning of what was to become the kingdom of Scotland. The name further spread through his descendants and over time, evolved from a personal name into a surname.

Today, Malcolm is common in Scotland and any countries to which Scots have emigrated. These include the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name Malcolm, along with its variants such as MacCallum or McCollum, is particularly prevalent in the Western Scotland region, including the Highlands and the Hebrides islands. It continues to be used both as a first name and a surname within these Scottish communities around the world.

Variations of the surname Malcolm

The surname Malcolm is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Máel Coluim" which means "disciple of Saint Columba." There are several variant spellings of this surname including Malcom, Malcomson, Malkemus, Malcum, Melcolm, Malkum, Malkomes, Malkemus, Malkimmus, Malkommus, Malkmus, Mulkemuz, MacCallam, MacCollum, and McCallam.

The variants Malcomson and MacCallum are interesting in that they introduce the patronymic "son," which means "son of Malcolm," similar to the formation of Johnson or Anderson.

This surname is not to be confused with the Irish surname "Colm," which has a similar pronunciation but is not derived from the same Gaelic roots or have the same meaning. Despite their phonetic similarity, Malcolm and Colm are not interchangeable and have distinct histories.

It is also worth noting that given the relationship between Gaelic and English, there can also be numerous spelling variations even within the same family. In the past, it was common for a person's surname to be spelled in whatever way the scribe decided to record it, leading to variants in spelling within documented records as well.

Famous people with the name Malcolm

• Malcolm X- African-American civil rights activist
• Steve Malcolm- American musician and frontman for the rock band FireHouse
• Neneh Cherry- Swedish singer, songwriter, rapper, and DJ
• Malcolm Gladwell- English Canadian journalist, author, and public speaker
• Malcolm McDowell- English actor.
• Jamie Malcolm- Scottish actor, director and television presenter
• Malcom- British rock singer
• Malcolm McDowell- British actor
• Malcolm- Rapper, songwriter, producer
• Malcolm McConnell- American poet
• Malcolm Jamal Warner- American actor, director, producer, and musician
• Malcolm Jenkins- American football cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles
• Malcolm Mitchell- American football wide receiver
• Malcolm Jamal-American-American actor, comedian,writer, director, producer, and author
• Malcolm David Kelley-American actor
• Malcolm McLaren-British impresario, musician, clothing designer and boutique owner
• Malcolm Middleton-British one-time singer-songwriter and guitarist
• Malcolm Gooderham- English professional footballer
• Malcolm Stewart- American professional motocross racer
• Malcolm McDowell- British actor, narrator, and occasional producer

Other surnames

MalcolmsonMalcomessMalcomeß