Calder

Calder is a surname of Scottish origin that has also been adopted as a place name and, more rarely, as a given name. The name is associated with geographic features such as rivers and valleys in the United Kingdom, and several places bear the element Calder in their names, including Calderdale, a metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England, which derives its name from the River Calder that flows through the area.

Notable people with the surname include Alexander Calder (1898–1976), an American sculptor renowned for his mobiles and stabiles, whose work helped redefine modern sculpture. Another prominent figure is John Calder (1917–2006), a Scottish publisher known for revitalizing modern drama in the English-speaking world through the prolific Calder and Boyars imprint.

In addition to geography and individuals, the name Calder appears in other contexts. The Calder Cup is the championship trophy of the American Hockey League, named in honor of Frank Calder, the longtime president of the National Hockey League. The term Calder thus links to a range of topics in art, publishing, geography, and sports, all rooted in its toponymic origins.