Surname MacCulloch - Meaning and Origin
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MacCulloch: What does the surname MacCulloch mean?
The surname MacCulloch originates from Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic given name 'Mac Dhomhnuill', meaning ‘son of Donald’. The name was first found among Clan Donald, a major Scottish clan descended from a warrior named Donald who lived in the1200s. During this time, many of the clan’s members took on or changed the prefix of MacCulloch as a mark of their loyalty.
Throughout the years, MacCulloch has spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. In these countries, people with this surname may have sought better economic opportunities or they may have emigrated as part of a group or family.
MacCulloch is a very common name. As of 2019, it is the eighth most popular surname in Scotland. In the United States, the last name ranked 6,541 out of 88,799 in terms of its frequency.
While the origin of the MacCulloch surname is closely tied to Scotland, it continues to be used today by people of multiple nationalities. There are many spellings and variations of the name — MacCulloch, McCulloch, MacCollach, or McCullough — all of which still trace back to Clan Donald.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCulloch: Where does the name MacCulloch come from?
The last name MacCulloch is most common today in the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland. Historically, there are records of MacCullochs in Northern Ireland, but the name is much more common further south in Scotland. It is estimated that as many as one in every 240 individuals in Scotland today have the surname.
It is believed that the name originated in the Scottish Highlands, where it spread from an earlier MacCulloch family. The name was often spelled a variety of ways, including MacCulloch, MacCollar, or MacCuller. It is likely that many of these variations share a common origin, connecting them together.
Today, there are many individuals with the last name MacCulloch in Scotland, all sharing a similar ancestry. The numbers also extend to many other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Many MacCullochs have also emigrated to other countries in search of a new home in more recent years.
In many areas throughout the UK, there are numerous streets and buildings with the name MacCulloch, serving as reminders of the history of the name. Despite its relative popularity, the last name remains unique and exotic in many areas, and it continues to be a reminder of the fascinating history associated with this family name.
Variations of the surname MacCulloch
The MacCulloch surname originates from the Gaelic name Macdhomhnuill. It is also spelled as MacCulloch, MacCullough, McCulloch, McCallough, McColl, McColloch, and Macoloch. MacCulloch is primarily a Scottish surname, with many branches of the same family deriving from Clan MacDhomhnuill of Galloway.
The earliest spelling of the surname was actually MaColych, which appeared in records as far back as the 13th century. Variants of the name, such as McColl and McCulloch, spread throughout Scotland and into other English-speaking areas. It is unclear when the original MacCulloch spelling was adopted, however it has been the most common spelling used in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The MacCulloch surname may have originated from the Gaelic personal name Colum meaning ‘dove’. Its spelling has evolved over time; from MaColych, to McCalloch, to MacCulloch and variations. It is a particularly popular name within Scotland and its far-flung diaspora, with people of the surname hailing from Spain, Peru, the United States, Canada, and beyond.
Since the name rose to popularity, MacCulloch has become associated with several notable people, including: Sir John MacCulloch (1823-94), a Scottish geologist; Sir Menzies MacCulloch (1829-1912), British admiral; John MacCulloch (1773-1835), a Scottish physician and geologist; and James McCulloch (1775-1825), first American-born Prime Minister of Australia.
Famous people with the name MacCulloch
- David MacCulloch: English football player
- Daniel MacCulloch: British ice dancer
- Rory MacCulloch: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Shona MacCulloch: Scottish television presenter
- Don MacCulloch: Canadian politician
- Iain MacCulloch: British artist
- Amanda MacCulloch: American executive
- Drever MacCulloch: Scottish actor
- Janie MacCulloch: British entrepreneur
- Gordon MacCulloch: Scottish actor