Find out how popular the last name Callum is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Callum.

Callum, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Callum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Callum in America

Callum is the 39052nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Callum surname appeared 564 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Callum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Callum to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Callum

The surname Callum originates from Scotland, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a variant of the Gaelic surname "Calum," which means "dove" or "peaceful one." This name is derived from the Latin word "columba," meaning "dove."

In the early medieval period, the name Callum was primarily found in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, particularly in areas like Argyll, Inverness-shire, and the Hebrides. It was often associated with families and clans that had strong ties to the Gaelic culture and traditions of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Callum can be found in the "Book of Deer," an ancient manuscript dating back to the 9th century. This manuscript, written in Latin and Gaelic, contains references to individuals bearing the name "Calum" or variations thereof.

In the 13th century, the name Callum appeared in various Scottish charters and legal documents, indicating its widespread use among the Scottish nobility and gentry. For instance, Sir Callum MacDonald, a prominent figure in the Clan Donald, was mentioned in a charter from 1263.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Callum. One of the earliest was Callum Mor MacGregor (c. 1420-1498), a renowned warrior and chief of the Clan Gregor. His exploits and leadership during the clan battles of the 15th century have been documented in various historical accounts.

Another prominent figure was Callum MacLeod (1570-1647), a Scottish poet and minister who served as the minister of Bracadale on the Isle of Skye. He is known for his poetic works that celebrated Gaelic culture and traditions.

In the 18th century, Callum Bàn MacLeòid (1728-1788), a Gaelic poet and warrior from the Isle of Skye, gained recognition for his poetic compositions and his participation in the Jacobite risings of 1745-1746.

The name Callum also has connections to various place names in Scotland, such as Callumlongue (meaning "the long meadow of Callum") and Callumkill (meaning "the church of Callum"), both located in the Highlands.

While the surname Callum is predominantly Scottish in origin, it has also been adopted by families in other parts of the British Isles and beyond, as a result of migration and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Callum

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Callum.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Callum was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Callum has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Callum was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Callum, please contact us.

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