Surname Colhoun - Meaning and Origin

Colhoun: What does the surname Colhoun mean?

The surname Colhoun is derived from the Irish surname Mac Con Uladh, which literally translates into "Son of Ulster," referring to a person from the northern province of Ulster in Ireland. The surname likely originated as a nickname for someone from the province, and eventually became a fixed surname. Over the years, the pronunciation changed to "Colhoun"to Anglicize the Irish spelling.

The province of Ulster has a long and rich history, having been an important province for centuries. The area has diverse geography, ranging from windswept coasts to rugged mountains and fertile plains. Ulster was often a center of culture in medieval; the ancient manuscript, the Book of Kells, was written and illustrated there in the 8th Century AD.

The Colhoun surname can be traced back to the Irish midlands in the early 17th Century. The Colhouns are believed to be linked to the ancient Irish O'Neill family, which is one of the oldest and most powerful clans in all of Ireland. The Colhouns became one of the numerous families who held important hereditary positions within the ruling families of Ireland.

Today, the Colhoun surname is found primarily in County Donegal, Ireland, and among Irish American families. It's worn with great pride, honoring the Colhouns' rich Irish roots and storied part in Irish history.

Colhoun: Where does the name Colhoun come from?

The surname Colhoun is most often associated with Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is believed that the family name is derived from an Irish term meaning "victorious man of the battle hill," likely referring to a warrior who was successful on the battlefield.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many of the Colhouns left Ireland for better opportunities in America and England. Today, the Colhoun surname is still largely concentrated in parts of Northern Ireland, specifically around Ulster and Donegal, where many of the Colhouns still live and work on ancestral lands. The surname is also common in Scotland, which was historically densely populated with Scottish-Irish settlers like the Colhouns.

In the United States, the Colhoun family name is primarily found in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia—all of which saw substantial Irish, Scottish and Ulster-Scots immigration in the 18th and 19th centuries. According to the most recent census, it is estimated that there are more than 5,000 individuals living in the United States with the Colhoun surname.

Overall, the Colhoun surname is a familiar name in the United Kingdom and United States, most often associated with Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is a legacy of a line of brave and ambitious warriors who transferred their ancestral homeland to new countries in hopes of a better future.

Variations of the surname Colhoun

The surname Colhoun has multiple variants and spellings, as well as potential surnames of the same origin. Some of these various spellings are Callhoun, Calhoon, Calhoun, Calhune, Caillhoun, Caulon, Colhane, Colhoon, Colquhoun and Calhagan.

Callhoun is one of the most common variants of the Colhoun surname and is sometimes spelled with two 'L's as opposed to the original form of one 'L'. This variant is believed to have originated from the Irish surname MacCatáin which was, in turn, derived from the Gaelic word cath, meaning 'battle' or 'warrior'.

The spelling Calhoon originated in Scotland and is a commonly-used alternative of the Colhoun surname. The name is derived from the Gaelic 'caol-dubh' which translates to 'black strait' or 'black narrows'. The Calhoun spelling also evolved from Scotland and shares the same root as Calhoon, likely deriving from a place name of dark or black.

The spelling Calhune is a variant derived from Ireland while the Caillhoun is derived from France. The Colhane, Colhoon, and Colquhoun spellings, as well as Calhagan, are believed to have originated from France and Scotland respectively.

Each of these variants involve slight modifications of the original spelling, but ultimately have the same origin. This origin likely stems from a battle or warrior-like origin or even a description of a place name or location (e.g. strait, narrows) in Scotland, Ireland, or France.

Famous people with the name Colhoun

• Sam Robards- He is an American actor who starred in films such as A.I.: Artificial Intelligence and Parental Guidance.
• Craigh Colhoun- He is a Canadian film producer best known for projects such as A Little Something for Your Birthday and A Life Interrupted.
• Vanessa Colhoun-She is a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles who has worked with the likes of Rod Stewart and John Legend.
• Cameron Colhoun-He is an American actor who worked on shows such as Rizzoli & Isles, Grey's Anatomy, and How to Get Away with Murder.
• Gabrielle Colhoun-She is a singer and musician from Los Angeles who released her debut album, Paradise, in 2011.
• Alan Colhoun-He is an Irish actor who starred in films such as In America, Match Point, and In Bruges.
• Robert Colhoun- He is an English actor, best known for his roles in The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards and Wolverine and the X-Men.
• Les Colhoun-He is a British agent, author, and speaker on digital media topics.
• Paddy Colhoun-He is a British actor who starred in the BBC series Holby City and in various stage productions.
• Tyler Colhoun-He is an American actor who has appeared in the films Bigger Than Life and Moving Mountains: Return of a Lost Son.

Other surnames

Colhoon