Colquhoun

Colquhoun is a surname of Scottish origin. It is a habitational name from the barony of Colquhoun in Dunbartonshire. The Scottish Clan Colquhoun originated there. The name is possibly derived from the Gaelic elements còil ("nook"), cùil ("corner"), or coill(e) ("wood") + cumhann ("narrow"), or comh-thonn ("wave crash"). The "l" is typically silent per developments in the Scots language.

Phonetically, MacOlquhoun is similar to MacElhone/MacIlhone and therefore Colquhoun may sometimes derive from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Còmhghan. Còmhghan is derived from comh ("together") and gan-, gen- ("born").

Calhoun, Colhoun, Calhoon, Colhoon, Cohoon, Hoon, Cahoun, and Cahoon are variants of the surname Colquhoun. They are generally found as simplifications and respellings, though all of them can occur from unrelated sources. In particular, Calhoun is from the Irish variant of Colquhoun.

Arts and entertainment

 * Alan Colquhoun, architect and architectural theorist
 * Alexander Colquhoun (artist)
 * Archibald Colquhoun, translator
 * Amalie Sara Colquhoun, Australian landscape and portrait painter
 * Christian Colquhoun, special effects designer
 * Christopher Colquhoun, British actor
 * Connor Colquhoun, Welsh YouTuber
 * Frances Mary Colquhoun (1836–1920), Scottish writer
 * Glenn Colquhoun, New Zealand poet and general practitioner
 * Ian Colquhoun (Scottish author), Scottish author and actor
 * Ithell Colquhoun, British surrealist painter
 * Joe Colquhoun, British comics artist
 * Robert Colquhoun, Scottish artist
 * Sophie Colquhoun, actress

Governance

 * Archibald Colquhoun (politician), Scottish politician and lawyer
 * A. R. Colquhoun, Scottish explorer and colonial administrator
 * Edward Alexander Colquhoun, mayor of Hamilton, Ontario
 * Iain Colquhoun, Scottish baronet
 * Maureen Colquhoun, British politician
 * William Colquhoun, Canadian businessman and politician
 * Colquhoun baronets, from two baronetcies created for members of the Colquhoun family

Science

 * David Colquhoun, British scientist
 * Patrick Colquhoun, statistician, police magistrate, founder of the Thames River Police
 * Howard Colquhoun, British scientist

Sport

 * Arjen Colquhoun, former American Football linebacker
 * Eddie Colquhoun, Scottish international footballer
 * Ian Colquhoun, New Zealand cricketer
 * John Colquhoun (sportsman), Scottish sportsman and sportswriter
 * John Mark Colquhoun, Scottish footballer
 * Leroy Colquhoun, Jamaican sprinter
 * Sam Colquhoun, Australian rules footballer
 * Jesse Colquhoun Australian rugby league footballer for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NRL

Others

 * John Frederick Colquhoun, member of the World Scout Committee
 * Colquhoun Grant, British army officer of the Peninsular War