Umfridus de Kilpatrick had a grant of the lands of Colquhoun in Dumbartonshire from Maldouen, earl of Levenax in or before 1241 (Levenax, p. 25). Robert de Colechon, apparendy the first to take his surname from the lands, was one of an inquest held at Dumbarton in 1259 (Bain, I, 2174), and again at Dumbarton, as Robert de Culchon in 1271, he was one of the inquest which found that the daughters of the late Finlay of Campsie were the lawful heirs of deceased Dufgall, brother of Maldowen, earl of Levenax (Red book of Menteith, II, p. 218; RMP., p. 191). As Sir Robert of Kylkone, he witnessed a charter by Alexander of Dunhon of the land of Akencloy Nether, c. 1285 (HMC., 2. Rep., App., p. 166), and as Robert de Colquhoune he witnessed a charter by Malcolm earl of Levenax to Arthur Galbraith, c. 1290 (Levenax, p. 30). Umfrai de Kilwhone, knight of the county of Dunbretan, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 202), as Vmfredus de Kelquon witnessed a confirmation charter by Robert I to Sir John Colquhoun, 1308 (Lennox, II. p. 407). About the middle of the fourteenth century Sir Robert Colquhoun married the heiress of Humphrey de Luss and thus became lord of Colquhoun and Luss. Robert de Colquhoune witnessed a grant of Auchmart to Walter de Buchanan in 1373 (Levenax, p. 59), John de Culqwon was sheriff of Dunbrettan in 1427 (HP., II, p. 159), Malcolm de Qulchone was a witness in Ayr in 1429 (Ayr, p. 83), and Alexander of Qulchom appears as witness in the same town in 1438 (Friars Ayr, p. 49). In 1497 John Culquhone of Lus sold a half markland in the territory of Innerquhapill occupied by a certain procurator with the staff of S. Mund (cum baculo Sancti Munde) called in Scots 'Deowray' (RMS., II, 2385). Adam Choquoyn was rector of Stobo in 1513 (Rental). Several of this name achieved distinction in Sweden, and descendants of Walter Colauhoun, a sixteenth century cannon-founder stil. exist there under the names of Cahun, Cahund, Caun, Gaan, Gahn, and Kharun. Hugh Cahun revealed the conspiracy headed by Charles de Manay in September 1574, and lost his life in spite of a promise of pardon (Stodart, II, p. 119). Johan Gottlieb Gahn (1745—1818) was one of the greatest scientists of his day, and Henry Cahun vulgo Gahn was physician to the Admiralty of Sweden in 1781. Duncan Ban spells the name in Gaelic Cothun (ed. Calder, p. 10, line 6). In the United States it has been shortened to Calhoun (John Caldwell Calhoun, 1782—1850, Vice-President, and champion of States' Rights), and among the Scots Guards of France it became Quohon. In Gaelic the Colquhouns are known as Mac a' Chounich or Macachonnich (Macfarlane, Am Briathrachan Beag, p. 77, says Mac a Chombaich). Cachoune 1592, Cahune 1686, Calquhoun, 1689, Calwhone 1329, Colchoun 1744, Colfune 1368, Colhoun 1611, Colhoune 1673, Collequhone c. 1430, Collquhone 1432, Colquhowne 1400, Colqhuen 1521, Colquhyn 1504, Colqwhone and Colqwhoun 1405, Cowquhowne 1541, Culchone 1329, Culchoun 1309, Culquhone 1499, Culquhoun 1574, Culquhoune 1527, Culqwan 1391, Culqwhone 1374, Culqwone 1406, Culwone 1358, Kelquon 1308, Kulwoun 1264. In the United States we have Israel Cohen, alios Ian Colquhounl.

(Celtic) belonging to Colquhoun (Dumbarton) = apparently the Narrow Wood [Gaelic coill, a wood + cumhann (mh mute), narrow] Umfridus de Kilpatrik, in the reign of Alexander II., acquired from Maldowin, Earl of Lennox, the lands of Culchone or Colquhoun within that Earldom, and he and iris descendants adopted the name of the lands as their surname. Humphrey of Colquhoun, representative of the family in the reign of Robert Bruce, had charters of Colquhoun and of Sauchy from that King.—Burke’s Peerage, &c.

(Scottish) One who formerly resided on the lands of Colquhoun (narrow corner or wood), in Dumbartonshire.

(pron. Cohoon). An ancient clan seated near Loch Lomond. The name was taken from the lands of Colquhoun in Dumbartonshire. Umfridus of Kilpatrick, who had a grant of them from Maldowen Earl of Lennox about 1250, was founder of the family.

According to tradition, the progenitor of this family was a younger son of Conach, King of Ireland, who came to Scotland in the reign of Gregory the Great, and obtained lands in Dumbartonshire, to which he gave the name of Conachon, corrupted into Colquhoun. I am inclined to think the name is from the Gaelic, denoting one who is brave, lively, quick, and furious in battle; from Colg, and chuoin, the genitive of Cu, a hound, a war—dog.

A location name in Dumbarton.