Surname Meldrum - Meaning and Origin
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Meldrum: What does the surname Meldrum mean?
The surname Meldrum is of Scottish origin, originating from a place called "Meldrum" in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "maol" and "druim" meaning "bare hill." Hence, it is often considered to represent someone who lived near or on a hill. The Meldrum family, traced back to this region, played a significant role in Scotland's history. They were a part of the Scottish Clan system, which was the traditional form of social structure in Scotland for many centuries. The Meldrums of Meldrum date back to the 12th century, and their influence expanded during the Middle Ages. Notable people with the Meldrum surname have included figures in academia, sports, and entertainment. While the name is most common in Scotland, migration patterns have spread it to other regions, particularly North America and Australasia.
Order DNA origin analysisMeldrum: Where does the name Meldrum come from?
The last name Meldrum is of Scottish origin and has strong historical roots in the region of Aberdeenshire in Northeast Scotland. The name is geographical and comes from Meldrum, a place near Fyvie in Aberdeenshire. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "meall" and "drum," meaning "bald ridge." The Meldrum family were significant landowners, with their ancestral home being Meldrum House. Today, owing to immigration over the centuries, the Meldrum surname can be found in a range of countries across the globe. However, it remains notably common in Scotland, particularly in the Aberdeenshire region. Additionally, it is also quite prevalent in other parts of the UK, as well as in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand due to the Scottish diaspora. Like many other surnames, the prevalence of the last name Meldrum continues to spread and evolve along with global migration patterns.
Variations of the surname Meldrum
The surname Meldrum has Scottish origins. It derived from a place-name, from the lands of Meldrum in Aberdeenshire, anciently spelled as "Maledrom", "Maledrum" or "Meledrom". Since the phonetic spelling is fairly straightforward, there aren’t many alternate spellings to Meldrum. However, rarely it could be spelled as Meldrom or Meldron, though these are not common.
The surname Meldrum might also present regional or dialectical variations based on the locality within Scotland where the name was used. Branches of the Meldrum family adopting distinct surnames based upon their geographical location or other characteristics is a possibility too, but those exact variations are unclear.
Given the migration and the passage of time, it's plausible that different branches of the Meldrum family line might have slightly altered surnames today, especially those who relocated to other countries. These variants could have morphed due to linguistic accents or a desire for easier assimilation into a new culture. However, the primary and most recognizable form of this Scottish surname remains as Meldrum.
Famous people with the name Meldrum
- Ian "Molly" Meldrum: An Australian music critic, journalist, record producer, and musical entrepreneur, Molly Meldrum is best known as the host for the TV series Countdown.
- Stephen J. Meldrum: A Canadian lawyer, who served as the Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada.
- Philip Meldrum: An English cricketer who played for Northamptonshire between 1921 and 1928.
- Andy Meldrum: A renowned Zimbabwean conservationist, awarded the "National Geographic Buffet Award" for his work in protecting the environment.
- David Meldrum: An art professor and longest-serving principal of Gray's School of Art in Scotland.
- James Meldrum: A former Scottish footballer, who played for Dundee FC and the Scotland national team.
- Frank Meldrum: An Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton during the 1930s.
- Hillary Meldrum: A hockey player who represented New Zealand in the women's tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Jaime Lynne Meldrum: A Canadian radio personality and music program director. Please note this is not an exhaustive list and there may be many other individuals across various fields of work with this particular last name.