As described in historical dictionaries

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

CHISHOLM. The right of the C's to be considered a Gaelic clan has been strongly asserted, but Skane thinks their Lowland origin evident, and he deems them a Norman race from Roxburghshire. Scot. Highl. ii. 313. The name however is Saxon enough, from cisU, gravel, andu*Zw, a river island. The Highland estate in Invernessshire has been so named from the family in recent times. The chief is always distinguished as Tlie Chisholm. There is a proverb to the effect that, " there are only four Thc's in the Highlands; Tlie Chisholm, The Macintosh, Tlie Devil, and The Pope"!

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.


Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Scotland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

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