Surname Calhoon - Meaning and Origin

Calhoon: What does the surname Calhoon mean?

The last name Calhoon is an anglicized form of the Scottish and Irish surname MacCalhoun, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Cathmhaoil. This surname comes from a personal name composed of two elements: “cath”, meaning ‘battle’, and “mhaol”, meaning ‘chief’ or ‘lord’. This name, therefore, carries the meaning “chief of battle”, although it can also signify “victorious chief”.

The origin of the surname is connected to a clan in Argyllshire in western Scotland and in counties Donegal and Derry in Ulster (modern-day Northern Ireland). The clan held possession of the land from at least the 11th century, and was part of the powerful Iron Age population of Scotland. Though the clan no longer exists today, the name is still common in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Lowlands.

The Calhoon family has a rich history and is thought to have many branches connected through marriage to other clans. In later centuries, people belonging to the Calhoon clans moved to areas in the New World, such as Nova Scotia and the United States.

The name Calhoon itself is believed to have originated in the 19th century. It has been anglicized in many forms, including Caillou, Calhoune, Callhone, Caluon, and Callohon. Its many variations offer a fascinating insight into the history and heritage of the Calhoon family.

Calhoon: Where does the name Calhoon come from?

The last name Calhoon is an uncommon name, not found in the top 1000 most common last names. However, there are still pockets of people bearing this name scattered throughout the world. There are a few places in the United States where it is most commonly found- mainly in rural southeastern states such as Virginia and South Carolina, likely due to early Scotch-Irish immigration to America.

The last name is also common in the United Kingdom, with most of the people found there being of Northern Irish descent. In Northern Ireland, records indicate that the name is still found primarily in Counties Antrim and Down.

Calhoon is also a very common name in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Donegal and Cavan. It is not clear when and how this name first arrived on the Emerald Isle, but records indicate the first families bearing this name were likely there as early as the mid-1700s.

Further afield, records from the late 1800s indicate that there is a small Calhoon presence in New Zealand and at least two townships in Australia called Calhoon. Whether these people are directly related to the Scots or Irish of the United Kingdom and Ireland is currently unknown.

In summary, the last name Calhoon is still found today, primarily in rural areas throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Calhoon

The surname Calhoon is of Scottish origin and is found mainly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name ‘Calum’ or ‘MacCalum’, from the pre-10th century ‘mac’ meaning ‘son’, and ‘Calum’ meaning ‘dove’.

The varied surnames which have evolved from this single origin are Calhoun, Callaughan, Callhan, Callahan, Calahan, Callhoun, Calaham, Calahoon, Calhune, Calhoon, Caullhoun, Culloch, et al.

The surname is commonly seen spelt as ‘Calhoon’, although the other variants are often encountered. The earliest recorded mention of the name is of the Earl of Lennox, Duncan Calachan, who lived in the late 13th century.

The associated arms are recorded in a number of related works, the most controversial of which is ‘The General Armory’ by Sir Bernard Burke, published in 1842.

Today, there are numerous Calhoon family members in many parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. The name has spread to other countries with migration, such as the United States, Canada and Australia, and there are now multiple branches of the clan that have branched out in these countries.

Across the centuries, the Calhoon name has seen changes in spelling and cultural transformation. It has been transformed, abbreviated, and even mis-spelled; however, the origin of the name Calhoon remains unchanged.

Famous people with the name Calhoon

• Kevin Calhoon: professional skateboarder
• Barbara Jean Calhoon: former president of the American Association of University Professors
• Dameon C. Calhoon: American voice actor
• Karla Calhoon: professional women’s basketball player
• Dave Calhoon: drummer for American rock band Off Broadway
• Doug Calhoon: former baseball pitcher
• Grant Calhoon: English actor
• Tim Calhoon: professional American snowboarder
• John Calhoon: American actor
• Sarah Calhoon: former Miss Wyoming

Other surnames

Calhoun