Calhoun surname meaning

Calhoun is the usual American spelling of Scottish Colquhoun, a habitational name from the barony of Colquhoun in Dumbartonshire. The place-name appears to combine Gaelic còil or cùil, “nook” or “corner,” or coill(e), “wood,” with cumhann, “narrow.” Scottish pronunciation is roughly “ka-hoon.” Calhoon, Cahoon, and Colhoun are sister forms in Ireland and Ulster. The family is traditionally traced to Umfridus de Kilpatrick’s grant in the barony under Alexander II. Place is the catalog type, and the Colquhoun barony origin is high confidence.