Malcom

Malcom is a variant of Malcolm, an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name Máel Coluim, meaning "disciple of Saint Columba." The name Malcolm has deep historical roots in Scotland, borne by four kings starting in the 10th century. The most notable was Malcolm III, who became king after defeating Macbeth, the usurper who had killed his father Duncan. This story was dramatized in Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth (1606), where the character Malcolm is based on the historical figure. Another famous bearer was Malcolm X (1925–1965), an American civil rights leader, though his name is sometimes misspelled as Malcom X due to the silent l in Malcolm.

Usage and Distribution

While Malcom is a legitimate variant of Malcolm, it also occurs as a misspelling, particularly in the case of Malcolm X. According to the 2010 United States Census, Malcom is the 8,896th most common surname in the United States, with 3,680 individuals bearing it. It is most common among White (74.95%) and Black/African American (20.3%) individuals.

Related Names

Malcolm itself has roots in Colum, a name derived from Latin columba meaning "dove." Other language variants include Máel Coluim (Medieval Scottish) and Maol Chaluim (Scottish Gaelic).

• Meaning: Disciple of Saint Columba
• Origin: Scottish Gaelic, Anglicized
• Type: Given name and surname
• Usage Regions: English-speaking world, especially Scotland and the United States