Contents [hide]

Malcolm History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Malcolm History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the Malcolm family were born. Their name comes from the Gaelic personal name "MacChaluim" which means "son of Calum," oe "son of St. Colomba." The names MacCallum and Malcolm are used interchangeably as Calum is the often Anglicized as Malcolm. 1

Early Origins of the Malcolm family

The surname Malcolm was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they quickly attained the status of Clan. Their ancient Clan seat was at Poltalloch near Loch Craignish.

The related Clan Calum is said to have been from Ariskeodnish. One of the earliest records of the name was Reginald MacCallum of Corbarron who was made the hereditary constable of Craignish Castle in 1414. Sir Duncan Campbell granted him lands in Craignish and on Loch Avich. This arrangement demonstrates the strong alliance between the MacCallums and the Campbells of Argyll; an arrangement which made them deadly foes of the MacDonalds.

In 1647, Sir Alexander MacDonald killed Zacharie MacCallum, a supporter of the Campbell Chief, in battle at Ederline. In the 17th century, another Zachary Maccallum was bequeathed the Cobarron lands by the last of that branch.

Early History of the Malcolm family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Malcolm research. Another 270 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1562, 1647, 1665, 1779, 1793, 1800, 1850 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Malcolm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Malcolm Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Malcolmson, Malcollm, Malcom, Malcomb, Malcome, Malcomson, Malcum, MacCallam, MacCallum and many more.

Early Notables of the Malcolm family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

John Malcolm of Balbeadie, who was conferred a baronetcy in Nova Scotia by Charles II in 1665

Malcolm World Ranking

In the United States, the name Malcolm is the 2,779^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Malcolm is ranked the 980^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,044 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Malcolm is the 386^th popular surname with an estimated 1,681 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Malcolm family to Ireland

Some of the Malcolm family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 127 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Malcolm migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Malcolm Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Andrew Malcolm, who was on record in Boston in 1694
Duncan Malcolm, who settled in Boston in 1694

Malcolm Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Malcolm, who landed in Virginia in 1716 5
Alexander Malcolm, who arrived in Annapolis, Maryland in 1739 aboard the Chesapeake
Alexander Malcolm, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1740 5
William Malcolm, who was on record in New York in 1763
William Malcolm, who landed in New York in 1770 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Malcolm Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Malcolm, who landed in Virginia in 1800 5
J Malcolm, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 5
Armstrong Malcolm, who landed in New York in 1827 5
Henry Malcolm, aged 18, who arrived in New York in 1854 5
Mary Malcolm, aged 20, who arrived in New York in 1854 5

Malcolm migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Malcolm Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Finlay Malcolm U.E. born in Scotland from Penobscot, Maine, USA who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 then resettled in Niagara [Home District], Ontario member of the Penobscot Association, married to Trypena Wardwell 6
Finlay Malcolm, who arrived in Canada in 1796

Malcolm Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Malcolm, aged 35, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Neptune" in 1834
Mrs. Catherine Malcolm, aged 56 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Pandora" departing from the port of New Ross, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 7

Malcolm migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Malcolm Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Malcolm, a shoemaker, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. James Malcolm, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 8
William Malcolm a land proprietor, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Buffalo" in 1836 9
Mr. Alexander Malcolm, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Pulteney Malcolm, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Malcolm migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Malcolm Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Isabella Malcolm, (b. 1820), aged 21, British dressmaker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 12
Miss Jane Malcolm, (b. 1822), aged 19, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 12
Andrew Malcolm, aged 38, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
Margaret Malcolm, aged 31, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
John Malcolm, aged 2, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Malcolm migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Malcolm Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John Malcolm, who settled in Jamaica in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Malcolm (post 1700) +

Janet Malcolm (1934-2021), born Jana Wienerová, an American writer, journalist on staff at The New Yorker magazine, and collagist
Donald G. "Don" Malcolm (1919-2007), American organizational theorist, Professor and Dean at Cal State L.A.'s College of Business and Economics
Norman Malcolm (1911-1990), American philosopher
Janet Malcolm (b. 1934), American writer and journalist
Benjamin Joseph Malcolm (1919-2001), American corrections administrator
William Malcolm, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1782-84, 1785-87 14
T. G. Malcolm, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Bushire, 1884 14
Philip S. Malcolm, American politician, U.S. Collector of Customs, 1909 14
Molly Beth Malcolm, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2000, 2004, 2008; Texas Democratic State Chair, 2002 14
Greek Malcolm, American politician, Delegate to Kentucky secession convention, 1861 14
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Malcolm family +

Ibrox disaster

Russell Malcolm (1955-1971), Scottish football supporter, from West Lothian who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people he died of his injuries 15

USS Arizona

Mr. Everett A. Malcolm, American Ensign working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 16

The Malcolm Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In ardua petit
Motto Translation: He has attempted difficult things.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 41)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HMS BUFFALO 1836. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1836Buffalo.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY LILFORD 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839LadyLilford.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html