McCallum (surname)

McCallum is a Scottish surname. Its origin lies in the Gaelic name ''Mac Calluim'', meaning "son of Callum" or "son of Columba". Callum is a variant of the name Columba, a saint revered in Scotland and Ireland. The name Columba itself is of Latin origin, meaning "dove".

Therefore, the surname McCallum indicates descent from a person named Callum or Columba. Variations in spelling exist, including McCollum, McCullam, and McCallam, reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time and regional differences in pronunciation.

The surname is found throughout Scotland and has spread internationally through emigration, particularly to North America, Australia, and New Zealand. While it's possible to trace specific family lines, extensive genealogical research is often required to establish connections between different McCallum families due to the widespread nature of the name and variations in record-keeping. The surname's relatively common frequency makes pinpointing a single ancestral origin for all McCallum families extremely difficult.

Further research into specific McCallum family lines would require consulting genealogical resources, including birth, marriage, and death records, census records, and land records from appropriate locations.