"McColm" is one of the main Sept Names of Clan
MacThomas.
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The name McColm,
as a result of a very early migration, has been in Galloway in
south-west Scotland for over 500 years (counties of
Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire). Although this may seem a
little unlikely, there are many cases of Highland families to
be found in Galloway and as McColm is the phonetic form of the
Gaelic MacThom, that is the son of Tom, which was pronounced
“McHom”, the tradition exists that they are a major sept of
the MacThomas Clan.
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The migration map
on this website shows how emigration from Badenoch was
possible by sea as travelling over land would have been
difficult and more dangerous. It is likely that at the time
Tomaidh Mor left Badenoch in the late 15th century to settle
in Glenshee, some members of the Clan travelled south by sea
to settle in Galloway. Then later some Mcolm's left Galloway
to settle in Ireland, where the name became
McComb.
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By the mid 17th
century the name McColm had become established in the south
west of Scotland and that remains the position
today.
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Please
click here to visit
our Home Page.
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There is also
more about all the Clan's septs in the book
"The History of
the Clan MacThomas" compiled by Andrew MacThomas of
Finegand.
