Show ContentsCalles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Calles

What does the name Calles mean?

The sea-swept Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the Calles family. Their name comes from the Gaelic surname of Scottish origin, which means son of the battle chief.

Saint Gall (550?-645?), originally named Cellach or Caillech, was abbot and the apostle of the Suevi and the Alemanni, and appears to have been the son of Cethernach, an Irishman of noble lineage, of the sept of Hy-Cennsealach, his mother being, it is asserted, a queen of Hungary. 1

The MacGall variant was later derived from the Gaelic Mac goill, or Mac an ghoill, 'stranger's son,' 'Lowlander.' 2

The MacCall variant was from the Gaelic MacCathail, 'son of Cathal,' "the M'Calls of Guffokland were an old Nithsdale family. Robert M'Kawele, was Lord of Karsnelohe, c. 1370-1380." 2

Early Origins of the Calles family

The surname Calles was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

The Maccalls of Dumfriesshire were settled there as early as 1500, "and are said to be descended from the Macaulays. John M'Call is recorded in Cumbray, 1583 (Hunter, p. 31). Matthew McCall in Maybole, charged with reset of rebels in 1607, appears a few days later as McEall (RPC., XIV p. 507). Quintigern Makcall, bailie of Edinburgh, 1610." 2

Early History of the Calles family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Calles research. Another 215 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1602, 1629, 1684, 1686, 1688 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Calles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Calles Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. Calles has been written as MacAll, MacColl, MacCole, MacCall, MacAul, Mccall and others.

Early Notables of the Calles family

More information is included under the topic Early Calles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Calles Ranking

In the United States, the name Calles is the 12,672nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Calles family to Ireland

Some of the Calles family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Calles migration to the United States +

Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Calles or a variant listed above:

Calles Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mateo Calles, who settled in Puerto Rico in 1803
Calles Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Calles (post 1700) +

  • Elias Plutarco Calles (1877-1945), Mexican Political leader, President of Mexico from 1924 until 1928
  • Enrique Burgos Calles (b. 1965), professional baseball pitcher
  • Plutarco Elias Calles (1877-1945), Mexican politician


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


Houseofnames.com on Facebook