MacCallum is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic MacColuim, meaning "son of Columba." The personal name comes from Late Latin meaning "dove," a symbol of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. Saint Columba was a 6th-century Irish monk who founded a monastery on Iona and is credited with converting Scotland to Christianity.HistoryThe MacCallum sept is part of Clan MacCallum, a Highlands clan originally from Lorn. Over time, forms such as McCallum gained prevalence. Both derive from MacColuim in Scottish Gaelic.Notable BearersNotable MacCallums include James MacCallum Smith (1868–1939), Australian politician; Mungo Wentworth MacCallum (1941–2020), Australian journalist; Mungo William MacCallum (1854–1942), Chancellor of University of Sydney; Martha MacCallum (b. 1964), American news anchor; and William George MacCallum (1874–1944), Canadian physician.VariantsRelated forms include Colum, Coleman (Irish), Colombo (Italian), as well as cultural equivalents like Columbus.Meaning: Son of Columba (dove)Origin: Scottish GaelicType: SurnameRegion: Scotland