The name Malcolm has its origins in the Gaelic language and culture of Scotland. It is derived from the Old Irish name Máel Coluim, which is a combination of the Gaelic words 'máel' meaning 'disciple' or 'tonsured one' and 'Colum' referring to the famous Saint Columba, the missionary who introduced Christianity to Scotland in the 6th century AD.

The name gained prominence in Scotland during the Middle Ages, particularly with the reign of King Malcolm III, also known as Malcolm Canmore (reigned 1058-1093). He played a significant role in the historical events surrounding the Norman conquest of England and the subsequent consolidation of Scottish independence.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Orkneyinga Saga, a historical narrative composed in Iceland in the early 13th century, which mentions a Norwegian earl named Malcolm who ruled over the Orkney Islands in the 11th century.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the name Malcolm. One of the most famous was Malcolm X (1925-1965), an influential African-American leader and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam and the civil rights movement in the United States.

Another well-known Malcolm was Sir Malcolm Campbell (1885-1948), a British racing motorist and motoring pioneer who set numerous land and water speed records during the 1920s and 1930s.

In literature, Malcolm Lowry (1909-1957) was a renowned English novelist best known for his novel "Under the Volcano," which is considered a seminal work of the 20th century.

The name also appears in the realm of science, with Malcolm Longair (born 1941), a prominent British astrophysicist and author of several influential textbooks on cosmology and astrophysics.

Lastly, Malcolm Gladwell (born 1963) is a Canadian journalist, author, and public speaker, famous for his books exploring the unexpected implications of research in the social sciences, such as "The Tipping Point" and "Outliers."