Mac Callum History

Saint Columba' s name was Colm in its original Gaelic form, and he was distinguished from others of the same name by the suffix meaning a cell: Columchllle. This suffix has made it easier to identify Columba' s own foundations among those of a namesake. Mac Callum means Son of Colm; and although it does not indicate descent from Columba, the Mac Callums do originate in the ancient kingdom of Dalriada settled by the first Scots from Ireland.
Nearly a thousand years separate Columba and the earliest historical reference to the Mac Callums. By this time the Campbells had moved into the district of Lorne in Argyll named after one of the princes of Dalriada, and for so long settled by Mac Callums. In 1414 Ranald Mac Callum was made hereditary Constable of Craignish Castle by the Chief of the Campbells.
The district of Lorn, Argyllshire, is generally regarded as the country of the Mac Callums; and Coigin, about three and a half miles from Oban, has long been considered the headquarters of the Mac Callums. Tradition states that the chief family of Colgin -consisting at the time of three sons-resolved to leave the parental roof. Their father prepared horses with panniers and gave one to each of the lads. He then sent them away with the direction to take up their residence in whatever place the panniers would fall off the horses. The panniers of the horse of one of them having fallen within the boundaries of the farm, he remained at home. The other two went on their journey, going in different directions. The panniers of the one having fallen in Glenetive, he settled there, and the panniers of the other having fallen at Kilmartin, he made his home in that district. That at least is the tradition-and one found in many parts of the world. Some more definite account of the Mac Callums from documentary sources would be preferable. In later years the name was, it is said, changed to Malcolm. Of this surname there is, however, more definite historical fact; A charter of 1562 is particularly interesting. It was granted by Duncan Campbell of Duntrune, and gave title in the property of Poltalloch to ‘Donald M' Gillespie vich O' Challum.' In correct Gaelic this reads: Domhnall mac Gllleasbuig Mhic Ui Chaluim ~ Donald son of Gillespie son of the grandchildren of Callum. The reference may be late, but the pedigree is that of the oldest stock, using the archaic form for a grandson of Callum. The Mac Callums of Poltalloch have continued down to the present, and now live in the ancient castle of Duntrune from which their 16th-century charter originated.
He was the lineal ancestor of Neil Malcolm of Poltalloch, who succeeded his cousin, Dugald, in 1787 and died in 1802. John Wingfield, 15th Laird, was created Lord Malcolm of Poltalloch in 1896, and died in 1902. He was succeeded in the estate by his brother, whose son, Sir Ian Malcolm of Poltalloch, K.C.M.G., the 17th Laird and Chieftain, was succeeded by his son, Lieut.-Col. George Ian Malcolm of Poltalloch, whose seat is Duntrune Castle.
The tartan was approved as correct by the late Sir Ian Malcolm of Poltalloch. The general impression (according to recent works on clan tartans) is, that this family, having lost trade of the original sett, endeavoured to have it prepared from the recollection of aged natives of Argyllshire, but, as might be expected, the recovery of the old sett shows that deviations in detail had, as usual, occurred. It has to be kept in mind, however, that such deviations in detail was quite normal in olden times.