Cullen Surname

7,421st
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 76,565 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Ireland

Cullen Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Cologne'; compare Bullen for Boulogne.

John de Coloigne, Norfolk, 1344: History of Norfolk.

1660-1. Peter Cullen and Jane Croke: Marriage Lic. (London).

1795.

Read More About This Surname

Cullen Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States28,7451:12,6091,569
England14,2111:3,921519
Ireland10,0061:47169
Australia9,9151:2,723366
Canada3,8201:9,6451,450
Scotland2,2601:2,369440
New Zealand1,8811:2,407337
Northern Ireland1,6531:1,116227
Wales8621:3,590395
South Africa5171:104,79212,674
Argentina3011:142,00512,023
Thailand2031:347,97260,483
France1641:405,01759,459
Saudi Arabia1591:194,06229,524
Germany1471:547,65645,370
Brazil1411:1,518,25850,663
Spain1391:336,34619,522
Morocco1361:253,50142,794
Egypt1221:753,57238,342
Singapore981:56,2012,231
Dominican Republic921:113,4014,751
Mexico851:1,460,30815,990
India721:10,653,686201,049
Luxembourg471:12,3522,231
Portugal471:221,6658,706
Isle of Man441:1,950371
Indonesia401:3,306,230179,945
Netherlands401:422,17943,576
Philippines401:2,530,956131,537
Italy371:1,652,88383,776
China361:37,981,1552,028
Denmark311:182,08815,299
Malaysia291:1,017,04245,504
Chile251:704,65916,160
Kazakhstan231:768,80449,532
Switzerland231:357,08327,273
Belarus221:431,86642,756
Jersey221:4,509908
Iraq211:1,667,69816,789
Sweden201:492,33835,486
Belgium181:638,70256,744
Jamaica131:220,7656,223
Kenya131:3,552,30039,474
Estonia121:110,15019,471
Poland121:3,167,396120,990
Norway111:467,48139,375
Peru101:3,178,41230,046
Venezuela101:3,020,40831,795
Czechia81:1,329,18491,312
Japan81:15,980,53747,042
Vietnam81:11,580,7572,851
Azerbaijan71:1,378,44618,562
Hong Kong71:1,047,9264,985
Oman61:614,6626,082
Qatar61:393,00055,922
South Korea61:8,540,0431,433
United States Virgin Islands61:18,3962,503
Georgia51:749,10921,598
Bangladesh41:39,839,19317,324
Finland41:1,374,17650,379
Kuwait41:950,17418,811
Libya41:1,560,9943,087
Samoa41:48,452659
Tunisia41:152,65617,743
Turkey41:19,455,356155,681
Vanuatu41:65,8191,151
El Salvador31:2,114,6295,401
Moldova31:1,187,12348,973
Nigeria31:59,047,586507,603
Romania31:6,692,62378,504
Taiwan31:7,814,91541,694
Trinidad and Tobago31:454,65814,297
Armenia21:1,465,09016,492
Bosnia and Herzegovina21:1,768,20116,841
British Virgin Islands21:15,797839
Cape Verde21:264,8215,214
Cayman Islands21:31,9461,715
Cyprus21:442,4389,493
Latvia21:1,025,02341,546
Mauritius21:646,70813,517
Serbia21:3,572,47432,645
Tanzania21:26,470,806111,653
Transnistria21:237,35016,204
United Arab Emirates21:4,581,13693,443
Albania11:2,914,05529,474
Algeria11:38,631,551130,422
American Samoa11:55,7583,072
Angola11:26,989,21411,853
Antigua and Barbuda11:99,1712,137
Austria11:8,515,435118,036
Bahamas11:391,7512,737
Barbados11:287,4482,772
Bermuda11:65,2793,010
Brunei11:418,7313,893
Bulgaria11:6,978,90586,260
Cambodia11:15,487,14614,824
Central African Republic11:4,515,3901,196
Colombia11:47,774,07244,230
Cook Islands11:18,1791,485
Costa Rica11:4,780,06913,345
Croatia11:4,228,60499,289
DR Congo11:73,879,570260,543
Ecuador11:15,905,84650,210
Ethiopia11:97,546,26229,669
Fiji11:894,3914,568
Gambia11:1,923,4511,043
Greece11:11,079,790145,225
Grenada11:108,5351,793
Guatemala11:16,082,66812,169
Iceland11:380,09011,096
Iran11:76,782,524277,718
Israel11:8,557,634182,558
Jordan11:8,842,43726,010
Lithuania11:3,034,58847,401
Madagascar11:23,649,8379,420
Maldives11:404,1727,269
Malta11:430,2723,380
Monaco11:37,0664,748
Mongolia11:2,825,28917,010
Mozambique11:27,261,5697,432
Nicaragua11:6,021,0908,768
Pakistan11:178,643,885213,220
Papua New Guinea11:8,153,717181,784
Puerto Rico11:3,550,1399,109
Russia11:144,123,056881,408
Saint Barthelemy11:9,614134
Slovakia11:5,336,450140,422
Sri Lanka11:20,808,56018,521
Sudan11:37,510,19514,259
Turkmenistan11:5,489,11211,427
Uganda11:39,039,279258,887
Uzbekistan11:30,929,14267,786
Zimbabwe11:15,438,240133,260
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland7,2071:61594
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England3,8441:6,341976
Scotland1,3311:2,812485
Wales751:20,9121,213
Isle of Man31:18,0901,402
Jersey21:25,9413,069
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States6,3381:7,9231,015

The alternate forms: Cùllén (1) are calculated separately.

Cullen (5,508) may also be a first name.

Cullen Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Cologne'; compare Bullen for Boulogne.

John de Coloigne, Norfolk, 1344: History of Norfolk.

1660-1. Peter Cullen and Jane Croke: Marriage Lic. (London).

1795. Married — John Cullen and Mary O'Neil: St. George, Hanover Square.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

From the burgh of Cullen in the parish of the same name, Banffshire. Henricus de Culane in record, 1340 (ER., I, p. 458). John de Coulane was juror on inquest held apud Rane, 1418 (REA., I, p. 216). John de Culane was elected bailie of Aberdeen, 1440 (CRA., p. 6), Andrew de Culane had a grant of the lands of Knaven in the barony of Kelly, 1444, and Andrew Coleyn or Colen, merchant of Aberdeen, had safe conducts to travel in England, 1438 and 1451 (Bain, IV, 1118—1234). John of Culane was "abbot of boneacord" in Aberdeen, 1486, and Robert of Cullane was chosen "priour of bonaccord" there in 1497 (Mill, Plays, p. 132,134). Elene Culan held a land in Glasgow, 1494 (REG., 469). Mr. William Colen was minister in Edinburgh, 1649 (Lamont, Diary, p. 7). John Cullen was appointed Islay Herala in January, 1661. William Cullen, M.D. (1710—1790), was one of the most eminent physicians of his time. (2) The Ayrshire and Galloway Cullens most probably of Irish origin from Maccullen which see.

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Celtic) 1 Whelp (a pet name) [Old Irish form Cuilen; Irish and Gaelic cuilean(n, a whelp, cub] 2 Handsome, Fair [Irish and Gaelic cuilthinn (th mute] 3 Bel. to Cullen = (a) the Holly- Tree (Place) [Gaelic and Irish cuillionn] (b) the Little Wood [Gaelic and lr. coillin, diminutive of coill, a wood] 4 (occasionally) for Colquhoun, q.v. (Anglo-Ger.-Latin) One from Cologne [Ger. Köln; Latin Colonia Agrippina (Agrippina’s Colony]

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

Mac Cuilin Co. Monaghan. SIF 91

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

Ó Cuilinn Primarily a numerous sept of southeast Leinster. Also the synonym of several other somewhat similar names, e.g. Culloon and Cullinane, q.v.

Bibl; IF 101; Map Kild; Plate VI

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

Ó Cuilinn Primarily a numerous sept of southeast Leinster. Also the synonym of several other somewhat similar names, e.g. Culloon and Cullinane, q.v.

Bibl; IF 101; Map Kild; Plate VI

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

Old English spelling of Cologne (Koeln).

South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(Irish, English, Scottish) Grandson of Cuileann (holly); a cub or puppy, an affectionate term; the handsome person; dweller in, or near, a small wood; dweller near a holly tree; one who came from Cullen (little nook), in Scotland.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

1. Irish. See Cuillean. 2. An old spelling of Cologne.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

Local: from the town of Cullen in Banffshire-cul, a neck, a lake; the place at the neck of the lake.

The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames (1862) by Clifford Stanley Sims (1839-1896)

Local. From the town of Cullen, in Banffshire, Scotland. The derivation is uncertain. It may be from Cuillean, holly, a place of holly—trees; or Cullin, the place at the neck of the lake, from Cul, a neck, the back of any thing, and lin, a lake, a pond.

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

A location name in Banffs.; or from the Irish O’Coilean; a personal name (coilean, a young warrior).

British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber

Cullen: from Cologne.

Family Names And Their Story (1913) by Sabine Baring-Gould

Cullen Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Cullen Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Cullen is held by more people in The United States than any other country or territory. It may occur in the variant forms: Cùllén. For other possible spellings of this name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Cullen? popularity and diffusion

This last name is the 7,421st most widespread last name globally. It is borne by around 1 in 95,181 people. The last name occurs predominantly in The Americas, where 40 percent of Cullen reside; 39 percent reside in North America and 38 percent reside in Anglo-North America. It is also the 90,473rd most numerous first name throughout the world, borne by 5,508 people.

The last name Cullen is most commonly used in The United States, where it is borne by 28,745 people, or 1 in 12,609. In The United States Cullen is most prevalent in: New York, where 11 percent are found, Florida, where 6 percent are found and Massachusetts, where 6 percent are found. Without taking into account The United States Cullen exists in 132 countries. It also occurs in England, where 19 percent are found and Ireland, where 13 percent are found.

Cullen Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of Cullen has changed over time. In The United States the number of people who held the Cullen surname increased 454 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it increased 370 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Ireland it increased 139 percent between 1901 and 2014; in Scotland it increased 170 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Wales it increased 1,149 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Cullen Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those carrying the Cullen last name is chiefly Catholic (96%) in Ireland, Orthodox (56%) in Russia and Orthodox (67%) in Belarus.

In The United States those holding the Cullen last name are 5.93% more likely to be registered Republicans than the national average, with 52.7% being registered with the party.

The amount Cullen earn in different countries varies greatly. In Peru they earn 31.14% less than the national average, earning S/. 13,349 per year; in South Africa they earn 40.3% more than the national average, earning R 333,408 per year; in United States they earn 13.69% more than the national average, earning $49,058 USD per year and in Canada they earn 8.4% more than the national average, earning $53,856 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Scullen92739/
Chullen9234/
Culleen9214/
Cuillen929/
Cullenn925/
Cullien924/
Coullen923/
Caullen922/
Cullhen921/
Culllen921/
Culen91336/
Culln911/
Cùllén891/
Coullien868/
Scuillen862/
Csullien861/
Collen833,454/
Cullin831,076/
Kullen83571/
Sullen83515/
Ceulen83137/
Coulen8386/
Cuylen8378/
Cullem8355/
Chulen8312/
Jullen8311/
Culeen8311/
Cullyn832/
Culent832/
Culeng831/
Culhen831/
Culoen831/
Csulen831/
Culien831/
Cullne831/
Cutlen830/
Caulen830/
Cuslen830/
Culenn830/
Tchuillen8010/
Culn804/
Culling771,701/
Scullin771,562/
Colleen771,479/
Cullina77235/
Collien77206/
Kaullen77173/
Cullion77160/
Coellen77109/
Koullen7771/
Juillen7739/
Coollen7738/
Chullin7725/
Coullin7719/
Suillen7716/
Caulien7712/
Kulleen778/
Giullen778/
Cullinn775/
Cauleng775/
Chullén773/
Sullien772/
Zuillen772/
Coulent772/
Cauleen771/
Cautlen771/
Culluin771/
Collenn771/
Jullent771/
Suyllen771/
Cheulen771/
Coulien771/
Djullen771/
Culheen770/
Scaulen770/
Culehen770/
Soullen770/
Saullen770/
Cuyhlen770/
Cullind770/
Kuillen770/
Cutleng770/
Colen733,094/
Julen73836/
Kulen73822/
Culin73755/
Sulen73430/
Čulen73234/
Zulen73176/
Culem7381/
Colln7345/
Cólen735/
Sulln733/
Culén732/
Chuln732/
Culne731/
Cülen731/
Kulln731/
Coulling71329/
Coullion7110/
Culenova719/
Tchuilen714/
Tchoulen712/
Sullienn711/
Choullin711/
Coolleen710/
Ciulluin710/
Cuthlenk710/
Collin6747,581/
Coolen677,188/
Chulin672,716/
Keulen672,444/
Kuhlen671,801/
Culina671,412/
Ciulin671,328/
Kollen671,297/
Kaulen671,194/
Coulin67746/
Kuylen67576/
Caulin67415/
Koulen67325/
Kullin67279/
Coelen67267/
Suilen67243/
Culing67195/
Sullin67170/
Zuylen67161/
Jullin67157/
Seulen67124/
Saulen67110/
Tchuileng67110/
Collyn67109/
Zuilen6799/
Culgin6791/
Juleen6790/
Juslen6777/
Juleng6773/
Kuilen6762/
Culion6749/
Kulien6745/
Coelln6742/
Chulyn6740/
Sulien6733/
Cuglin6729/
Kullén6728/
Ceulin6727/
Cullim6726/
Zullin6725/
Cuilin6724/
Suluen6723/
Tschulenk6717/
Cautillin6717/
Zhulen6715/
Zollen6715/
Suleen679/
Coleen678/
Kuleen677/
Jhulen677/
Zulhen676/
Giulen675/
Caulín675/
Juhlen675/
Cuslin674/
Juilen674/
Jeulen674/
Colien672/
Colenn672/
Khulen672/
Tchouleng672/
Cutlin671/
Julend671/
Julent671/
Joulen671/
Kulenn671/
Jaulen671/
Jullem671/
Kuluen671/
Sculin671/
Caulìn671/
Coulem671/
Collln671/
Zulien671/
Caulem671/
Cuilem671/
Culhin670/
Juillendt670/
Juulen670/

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Cullen Reference & Research

Callen FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Cullen
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis