Surname McColl - Meaning and Origin
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McColl: What does the surname McColl mean?
The surname McColl is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic MacCoul, meaning "son of Coll." The name Coll is thought to stem from "Colla," the name of three ancient Irish brothers who founded significant clans in Scotland and Ireland. Thus, McColl would translate to "the son of the one descended from Colla". This patronymic naming convention is typical in Celtic cultures where the child's surname would denote their father's given name or ancestral lineage. The name gained popularity in the western coastal regions and Hebrides islands of Scotland. It is important to remember that the spelling of Scottish names can often vary due to translation from Gaelic to English - McColl can also appear as MacColl, Mccoll, and can sometimes be anglicized to Cole.
Order DNA origin analysisMcColl: Where does the name McColl come from?
The last name McColl is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name 'Coll' which means 'dove', a popular first name amongst early Christians as a symbol of peace. The prefix 'Mac' in McColl means 'son of', therefore McColl translates to 'son of Coll'. This surname is associated with the clans MacDonald of Dunnyveg and MacDougall in Scotland. Even though the name is primarily found in Western Scotland and Ulster, due to historical events such as migration and the Highland clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries, bearers of this name have spread to other regions. Today, McColl is a common surname in many English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, it remains most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Variations of the name include McCall, MacCall, McColm, and Malcolm.
Variations of the surname McColl
The surname McColl has a fascinating history and a variety of spellings due to oral traditions and translation in different regions over the centuries. It is of Scottish Gaelic and Irish origin, primarily with roots from the personal name Coll, which means "dove" in Gaelic. The original Mac Cú Uladh or ‘son of the Hound of Ulster’ got anglicized to McCool and further adulterated to McColl.
This particular surname varies with spellings and local pronunciations. Some common variants include McCall, MacColl, McCollum, McCool, and Coll. Other English adapted spellings may include MacCall, McCaul, MacAulay, and MacAull.
Surnames of the same origin largely depend on the root name, making names such as Collins, Collis, Colson, Collick also derived from the same Gaelic Coll. Remember that the Mc or Mac prefix refers to "son of," so any names that incorporate these prefixes, followed by a variation of "Coll," would essentially be of the same origin.
These variations largely depend on numerous factors such as geography, literacy levels, and phonetic interpretations. Thus, they may all represent one lineage, albeit through various spellings and interpretations.
Famous people with the name McColl
- Ann McColl: A media executive and environmental activist, she’s the former CEO and President of Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership in Paducah, Kentucky.
- Jack McColl: Jack is a Scottish professional footballer who has played for both The Scottish National Football Club and Saint Johnstone.
- Julianne McColl: She’s an American actress, best known for her portrayal of Mrs. M in the 2000 independent comedy movie Snow Days.
- Donny McColl: Donny is a Scottish singer-songwriter who has been active since 2005 and has released two albums: A New Rush and Born to Feel.
- Laird McColl: Laird is a Canadian businessman and former politician. He’s the Founder and Managing Partner of South River Ventures, along with an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta.
- David McColl: David is a Scottish rugby union player who has represented his country a number of times and currently plays for Currie & Balerno.
- Jack E. McColl: Jack is an American aviation inspector, who has inspected various aircrafts in the United States, such as planes from Boeing, Douglas, Fokker, Grumman, and many other companies.
- Jared McColl: A Canadian Paralympian, Jared has won multiple Paralympic medals for wheelchair racing.
- Malcolm McColl: A British competitive sailor and Olympic Games participant, Malcolm has won multiple medals for sailing competitions.