MacCallum/McCollum

[westsussexbiker]

I figure this is the best place to ask this question. My mum's family hail from Southern Ireland (Eire!), in a part of the country proliferated at one time by Scottish Presbyterians. The family name is McCollum, but I was wondering if this is a "corruption" of MacCallum? The family are now Anglican, but converted from Presbyterianism at the turn of the last century, according to census records. Apart from that, I have little else to go on as to origins, so I sort of assume there is probably a good chance of Scottish ancestry. Anyone got any thoughts on this?

[ctbuchanan]

Today is a day for names. Your instincts are correct. Remember that reliable repetition in the spelling of a surname is a very, very, modern thing.
From the Origin of Names: This is a surname of Gaelic origins which is recorded in an astonishing number different spellings. In so far as there is a 'correct' one it is generally accepted to be MacColum, although no doubt holders of the spellings MacColum, Macallam, MacColm, MacCollom, McCollum, McColum, McColm, Colum, and many, many, others, may disagree. The original spelling was 'Mac Coluim' or 'Mac giolla Choluim' both of which have essentially the same meaning of the 'descendant of Coluim'.

[westsussexbiker]

Ah, yes.

As my father is from Northern Ireland and very likely also descended from Scottish "planters" then it's probably to assume that I have more Scottish blood than Irish blood!

[Elizabeth]

Hello from another McCollum descendant! My McCollums have been in the United States for 300+ years as best as I can tell.

[westsussexbiker]

We're probably related then...10th cousins, three times removed or something similar!

[Elizabeth]

Yes we probably are!

I have done documented research back to Daniel McCollum; Birth 1750 in New Jersey, USA - Death 1832 in Posey, Indiana, USA

I think he was the grandson of John "Old John" Isaac McCollum; Birth 1657 in Poltollach, Craignish, Argyll, Scotland - Death 18 Apr 1760 in Basking Ridge, Somerset, New Jersey, USA

A genealogists work is never done!