NameCensus.

UK surname

Callum

A surname derived from the Gaelic words 'cal' meaning "bald" and 'dubh' meaning "black".

In the 1881 census there were 337 people recorded with the Callum surname, ranking it #8,981 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 414, ranked #11,574, down from #8,981 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkhill, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Inverness East Rural, County Durham and South Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Callum is 426 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.8%.

1881 census count

337

Ranked #8,981

Modern count

414

2016, ranked #11,574

Peak year

2013

426 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Callum had 337 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,981 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 414 in 2016, ranked #11,574.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 390 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Callum surname distribution map

The map shows where the Callum surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Callum surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Callum over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 311 #7,413
1861 historical 316 #8,054
1881 historical 337 #8,981
1891 historical 385 #9,150
1901 historical 390 #9,650
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 360 #11,929
1998 modern 367 #12,121
1999 modern 364 #12,267
2000 modern 362 #12,264
2001 modern 351 #12,349
2002 modern 356 #12,449
2003 modern 360 #12,152
2004 modern 361 #12,175
2005 modern 338 #12,698
2006 modern 340 #12,722
2007 modern 362 #12,271
2008 modern 391 #11,675
2009 modern 420 #11,266
2010 modern 414 #11,673
2011 modern 412 #11,593
2012 modern 418 #11,318
2013 modern 426 #11,350
2014 modern 423 #11,488
2015 modern 415 #11,583
2016 modern 414 #11,574

Geography

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Where Callums are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkhill, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Inverness East Rural, County Durham, South Derbyshire, Borestone and Wandsworth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kirkhill Inverness
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Inverness East Rural Highland
2 County Durham 023 County Durham
3 South Derbyshire 002 South Derbyshire
4 Borestone Stirling
5 Wandsworth 019 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Callum

These lists show first names that appear often with the Callum surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Callum

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Callum, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Callum surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Callum household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Callum is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Callum is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Callum falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Callum is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Callum, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Callum

The surname Callum originates from Scotland, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a variant of the Gaelic surname "Calum," which means "dove" or "peaceful one." This name is derived from the Latin word "columba," meaning "dove."

In the early medieval period, the name Callum was primarily found in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, particularly in areas like Argyll, Inverness-shire, and the Hebrides. It was often associated with families and clans that had strong ties to the Gaelic culture and traditions of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Callum can be found in the "Book of Deer," an ancient manuscript dating back to the 9th century. This manuscript, written in Latin and Gaelic, contains references to individuals bearing the name "Calum" or variations thereof.

In the 13th century, the name Callum appeared in various Scottish charters and legal documents, indicating its widespread use among the Scottish nobility and gentry. For instance, Sir Callum MacDonald, a prominent figure in the Clan Donald, was mentioned in a charter from 1263.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Callum. One of the earliest was Callum Mor MacGregor (c. 1420-1498), a renowned warrior and chief of the Clan Gregor. His exploits and leadership during the clan battles of the 15th century have been documented in various historical accounts.

Another prominent figure was Callum MacLeod (1570-1647), a Scottish poet and minister who served as the minister of Bracadale on the Isle of Skye. He is known for his poetic works that celebrated Gaelic culture and traditions.

In the 18th century, Callum Bàn MacLeòid (1728-1788), a Gaelic poet and warrior from the Isle of Skye, gained recognition for his poetic compositions and his participation in the Jacobite risings of 1745-1746.

The name Callum also has connections to various place names in Scotland, such as Callumlongue (meaning "the long meadow of Callum") and Callumkill (meaning "the church of Callum"), both located in the Highlands.

While the surname Callum is predominantly Scottish in origin, it has also been adopted by families in other parts of the British Isles and beyond, as a result of migration and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Callum families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Callum surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 50 Callums recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.53x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 50 1.53x
Lanarkshire 41 3.86x
Durham 33 3.37x
Perthshire 33 22.37x
Angus 25 8.21x
Banffshire 23 33.73x
Inverness-shire 20 20.37x
Aberdeenshire 19 6.24x
Nairnshire 12 119.64x
Midlothian 10 2.27x
Surrey 10 0.62x
Renfrewshire 9 3.53x
Stirlingshire 9 7.42x
Dunbartonshire 7 7.92x
Norfolk 6 1.19x
Warwickshire 6 0.72x
Lancashire 5 0.13x
Ayrshire 3 1.22x
Kent 3 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.01x
Lincolnshire 2 0.38x
Clackmannanshire 1 3.68x
Cumberland 1 0.35x
Fife 1 0.51x
Hampshire 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.44x
Monmouthshire 1 0.42x
Royal Navy 1 2.55x
Suffolk 1 0.25x
Sussex 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Auchterarder in Perthshire leads with 23 Callums recorded in 1881 and an index of 558.25x.

Place Total Index
Auchterarder 23 558.25x
Bishopwearmouth 19 22.64x
Barony 17 6.32x
Glasgow 15 7.95x
Dundee 12 10.56x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 16.60x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 10 17.56x
Liff Benvie 10 21.63x
Stockton On Tees 10 21.21x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 5.08x
Huddersfield 9 18.96x
Inverness 9 36.45x
Falkirk 8 28.19x
Fordyce 8 162.93x
Kirkhill 8 479.04x
Tadcaster West 8 310.08x
Brightside Bierlow 7 10.96x
Cawdor 7 573.77x
Dumbarton 7 56.91x
Dunning 7 380.43x
Gamrie 6 78.84x
Loddon 6 461.54x
Birmingham 5 1.81x
Alford 4 240.96x
Govan 4 1.52x
Houghton Le Spring 4 59.17x
Hunslet 4 7.88x
Manningham 4 9.97x
Marnoch 4 109.29x
Mortlach 4 120.12x
Shotts 4 31.45x
Ardclach 3 238.10x
Banstead 3 69.12x
Battersea 3 2.48x
Cathcart 3 21.77x
Croy Dalcross 3 154.64x
Holbeck 3 13.90x
Perth East Church 3 21.57x
Rotherhithe 3 7.39x
West Greenock 3 6.56x
West Kilbride 3 128.21x
Arbroath 2 19.82x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 2.35x
Caistor 2 95.69x
Fraserburgh 2 23.34x
Liverpool 2 0.84x
Nairn 2 32.84x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.57x
Aberystruth 1 4.77x
Alloa 1 7.60x
Alva 1 17.30x
Banff 1 16.89x
Caldewgate 1 6.45x
Chipping Barnet 1 25.25x
Croydon 1 1.12x
Edgbaston 1 3.89x
Erith 1 9.05x
Farnborough 1 14.12x
Frindsbury 1 23.64x
Haddenham 1 61.35x
Hastings St Mary 1 7.25x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 4.77x
Huntly 1 20.20x
Inverkeithing 1 34.13x
Ipswich St Clement 1 9.82x
Kilmalcolm 1 32.79x
Leeds 1 0.54x
Maryhill 1 4.81x
Mearns 1 22.42x
Middle Greenock 1 14.39x
Moss Side 1 4.87x
Northowram 1 4.38x
Parlington 1 416.67x
Rochester St Margaret 1 8.45x
Royal Navy 1 2.99x
South Leith 1 2.02x
St Vigeans 1 6.08x
Tyrie 1 26.18x
Wycombe 1 6.75x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Callum surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Callum surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 8
John 7
James 6
Charles 5
George 5
Joseph 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Horace 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Clym 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Leighton 1
Michl. 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Selsus 1
Sidney 1
Theophilus 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Callum surname: questions and answers

How common was the Callum surname in 1881?

In 1881, 337 people were recorded with the Callum surname. That placed it at #8,981 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Callum surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 414 in 2016. That gives Callum a modern rank of #11,574.

What does the Callum surname mean?

A surname derived from the Gaelic words 'cal' meaning "bald" and 'dubh' meaning "black".

What does the Callum map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Callum bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.