Show ContentsCulverhouse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Culverhouse is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a keeper of doves or pigeons. The surname Culverhouse is derived from the Old English word culfrehus, which literally means dove-house. The name refers to a dovecote, which is a structure for doves or pigeons to roost and breed in. The name Culverhouse was originally applied to the keeper of such a structure. "Pigeon-houses were attached to all large establishments; many of them still exist." [1]

Early Origins of the Culverhouse family

The surname Culverhouse was first found in Somerset, where Henry atte Colverhouse and Roger atte Colverhous were both listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of Keng Edward III's reign.) [2]

Early History of the Culverhouse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Culverhouse research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1266, 1309, 1327, 1582, 1619, 1651 and 1653 are included under the topic Early Culverhouse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Culverhouse Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Culverhouse include Culverhouse, Colverhous, Colverhouse, Cullerverous, Culverwell and many more.

Early Notables of the Culverhouse family

Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Culverhouse Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Culverhouse migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Culverhouse were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Culverhouse Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Culverhouse, who arrived in Maryland in 1680 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Culverhouse (post 1700) +

  • Hugh Franklin Culverhouse (1919-1994), American lawyer and former owner of the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Dr. Gay Culverhouse (b. 1947), former President of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Notre Dame College
  • Ian Brett Culverhouse (b. 1964), English former professional footballer
  • Peter Culverhouse (d. 2003), of Bookham in Surrey who died of a brain tumour at the age of 31, inspiration for the Peter Culverhouse Memorial Trust, a charitable trust in the United Kingdom
  • Mike Culverhouse, British Chief Constable of the Isle of Man Constabulary (1999 to 2007)
  • Harry Culverhouse (b. 1990), British actor, best known for his role in Dani's House


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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