Coloom History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Coloom

What does the name Coloom mean?

The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Coloom family. Their name comes from the Scottish name MacCallum, which means "the son of the gillie of Callum." However, the full form of the name was used until the 17th century. The Callums were an import branch of the Clan McLeod of Raasay.

Early Origins of the Coloom family

The surname Coloom 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 held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the Coloom family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coloom research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1636 is included under the topic Early Coloom History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coloom Spelling Variations

The medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. Coloom has been recorded as Callum, MacColum, MacCallum, Colum, Callam, Callem, Calam and many more.

Early Notables of the Coloom family

More information is included under the topic Early Coloom Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coloom family to Ireland

Some of the Coloom family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coloom family

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Coloom, or a variant listed above: Patrick Callum who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1868.

The Coloom 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 tendit
Motto Translation: He reaches towards things difficult of attainment.