Malcom
A Scottish surname from the personal name Malcolm, meaning “disciple” or “servant” of St. Columba.
The #8,896 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 83,898 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Malcom is generally a surname taken from the old personal name Malcolm, itself from Gaelic elements usually explained as mael, meaning “bald,” “shaven one,” or by extension “servant” or “disciple,” plus Coluim, referring to Columba. In this tradition, the name can be understood as “disciple of Columba” or “servant of Columba.” The surname form is typically a spelling variant of Malcolm rather than a separate origin.
History
The name is strongly Scottish in association and was carried by families descending from men named Malcolm. Historical spelling variation was common, so Malcom and Malcolm often alternate in records. Older genealogical works also treat Malcom as a later shortened or variant spelling influenced by the personal name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The medieval Scottish royal name Malcolm helped keep the surname familiar long after the Gaelic naming tradition began to fade.
From the historical record
“MALCOLM \ (Celt.) (Shaven) Servant or MALCOM J Disciple of St. COLUMBA [Gael. mael, shaven one, monk, servant, disciple -i- Coluim, of Columba] MALDOON = Muldoon, q.v. MALE (Celt.) i Shaven One ; Monk, Disciple [Gael, and Ir. mael, maol, prim. ' bald ']”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)