Clan Malcolm
also MacCallum
Disciples of Columba, admirals and aimers-high.
- Origin
- Stirling & the Forth Valley, Scotland
- Motto
- In ardua petit
- Famous bearer
- Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm
- Register
- Scottish clan
The seat of Clan Malcolm
Seat vacantChief
No one leads the Clan Malcolm community yet. When the movement opens, you can stand for its leadership, or help elect whoever does.
Current mission
No shared goal set yet. Once Clan Malcolm has leadership, it sets the public focus: a restoration, a gathering, a real-world project that helps its own.
The Malcolm clan is being rebuilt. Join the waiting list for the movement today, and you help decide who leads it and what it does.
Help rebuild the Malcolm clan →Motto
In ardua petit
“He aims at difficult things”
What does the Malcolm name mean?
From 'Maol Chalum', disciple of Columba. 'Maol' is Gaelic for 'shaven head' or 'monk', invoking the followers of St Columba on Iona.
The history of Clan Malcolm
The Malcolm family settled in Stirling, Dunbarton and Argyll by the 14th century. The name itself reaches further back, to the followers of the Irish Saint Columba, who founded the monastery on Iona. 'Maol Chalum' means a disciple of Columba.
In the 18th century, Dugald MacCallum of Poltalloch, chief of Clan MacCallum, adopted the name Malcolm. The reason is not entirely clear, but he likely considered the names interchangeable through distant ancestral links.
Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm joined the Royal Navy in 1778 and in 1798 captured three Spanish gunboats in Manila Bay. As Commander-in-Chief of the St Helena Station, 1816–17, he won the 'warm regard' of the exiled Napoleon.
Champions of the Malcolm name
The bearers whose lives are inseparable from this surname. Each has their own page, biography, achievements, geography, connection to the family.
Historic Places, Rebuilt
Explore the streets and seats the Malcolm name knew, rebuilt with AI as they stood in history.
Historic Places, Rebuilt · New
The Campbells of Glenorchy's stronghold on its island in Loch Awe, garrisoned under Ben Cruachan.
Historic Places, Rebuilt · New
The holy isle at its medieval height, the abbey, the high crosses and the kings' graves, under the Lordship of the Isles.
Castles the Malcolm held
Strongholds this name held for a decade or more, look one up, or rebuild it to explore.
- Duntrune Castle
Held by the Malcolms of Poltalloch since 1792; the current owner is chief of Clan Malcolm.
- Carnasserie Castle
The estate was sold in the 19th century to the Malcolms of Poltalloch.
The castles of the homeland
The great strongholds of the homeland, look one up, see what it looked like in its prime, and recreate it to explore.
Edinburgh CastleRestored · prime 1520
Stirling CastleRestored · prime 1542
Glamis CastleStill standing · prime 1900All castles in Scotland → · Strongest castles in Scotland → · Castles of Europe
Play As Your Clan
Pick any year from 500 to 1945 and any place on earth, the Malcolm country, or a shore no Malcolm ever reached. The chronicler sets the scene; the deeds are yours.
Notable bearers of the Malcolm name
- Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm