Drummond

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A Scottish family name of ancient origin, also borne by several places in Scotland and elsewhere
2. A surname of Scottish origin, as well as the name of various towns and geographical features
3. A proper name of Scottish origin used as a family name and for several places

Etymology: Drummond is a Scottish surname and place name, and the place came first. It comes from Gaelic "druim," meaning "ridge," and it was originally a locality in Perthshire. Families took their names from the land they held, and the Drummonds of Perthshire grew into one of Scotland's notable families, later linked by marriage to the royal house of Bruce. The name is also attached to an invention. The Drummond light was a bright limelight developed by Thomas Drummond, a British army officer and surveyor. Its intense beam could be seen across long distances, which made it useful for mapping. Because the light was so bright, the name became attached to the device itself, and it is still used to describe a lamp of this kind.