Contents [hide]

Cull History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Cull History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The ancestors of the name Cull come from the ancient Scottish tribe known as the Dalriadans. They lived along the rugged west coast of Scotland and on the Hebrides islands and used the name to indicate a person who lived in Cullen in the Hebrides.

Early Origins of the Cull family

The surname Cull was first found in Cullen, a burgh, seaport, and parish, in the county of Banff. "This place, the origin of the name of which is altogether uncertain, was originally called Inverculan, being bounded on the north and west by the water of Cullen, which falls into the sea on the western side of the parish; and in ancient times it formed part of the parish of Fordyce. Its early history is for the most part involved in obscurity; but there appears to be no reason to doubt the truth of the tradition, that a severe conflict took place here between the Danes and the Scots under Indulfus, in the year 960. The king was killed by an arrow at the head of his troops; but the enemy were completely routed." 1

Cull or Coll are literally derived from the Celtic "dweller at a wood [Gaelic and Irish coill]." 2

Early History of the Cull family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cull research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1424, 1435 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cull History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cull Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of Cull have been recorded over the years, including These are the result of the medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English. Cull, Coll, Coole, Cula, Codolf and others.

Early Notables of the Cull family

More information is included under the topic Early Cull Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cull World Ranking

In the United States, the name Cull is the 8,661^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Cull is ranked the 288^th most popular surname with an estimated 156 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Cull family to Ireland

Some of the Cull family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cull migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Cull were among those contributors:

Cull Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Felix Cull, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1812 5
John Cull, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1818 5
William Cull, who arrived in New York in 1839 5
Owen Cull, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1851 5
E E Cull, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1860 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cull Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Cull, aged 24, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Royal George" from Southampton, England 6
Stafford Earl Cull, aged 29, originally from Hirotsuka, Japan, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Lapland" from Southampton, England 6
Kathleen Cull, aged 25, originally from Wimbledon, England, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Lapland" from Southampton, England 6
Joseph Cull, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Southampton, England 6
Walter Cull, aged 19, who arrived in New York City, New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Royal George" from Southampton, England 6

Cull migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cull Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Cull, of Gander Bay (1803) and of Fogo, Newfoundland (1810), employed by Governor Holloway to obtain information about the native Indians of Newfoundland 7
Jane Cull, of Greenspond, Newfoundland in 1803 7
John Cull, of Barr'd Islands, Newfoundland in 1821 7
John Cull, aged 41 years, baptized at Cape Cove, Newfoundland in 1830 7
John Cull, of Indian Island, Newfoundland in 1862 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cull migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cull Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Cull, (b. 1789), aged 27, English labourer who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1818 8
Mr. Hugh Cull, (b. 1815), aged 16, English labourer who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1832 9
Mr. John Cull, English convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Enchantress"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Mr. Caleb Cull, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Candahar" on 26th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11

Cull migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cull Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Cull, (b. 1857), aged 27, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Aorangi" arriving in Invercargill, New Zealand on 11th May 1884 12
Mrs. Elizabeth Cull, (b. 1856), aged 28, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Aorangi" arriving in Invercargill, New Zealand on 11th May 1884 12
Miss Alice Cull, (b. 1877), aged 7, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Aorangi" arriving in Invercargill, New Zealand on 11th May 1884 12
Mr. William Cull, (b. 1879), aged 5, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Aorangi" arriving in Invercargill, New Zealand on 11th May 1884 12
Miss Mary Cull, (b. 1881), aged 3, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Aorangi" arriving in Invercargill, New Zealand on 11th May 1884 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cull (post 1700) +

Richard J. Cull Jr. (1914-1992), American reporter in Washington for the Dayton Daily News and the Cox Newspapers syndicate (1947 to 1962)
Harry K. Cull (1911-2000), American politician, Mayor of the City of Flint, Michigan (1962-1964)
Nicholas J. Cull (b. 1964), American historian
Michael B. Cull, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Allegheny County 5th District, 1908 13
Judson T. Cull, American politician, Mayor of Laurel, Maryland, 1890-91 13
Hugh Cull, American politician, Delegate to Indiana State Constitutional Convention, 1816 13
Harry K. Cull, American politician, Mayor of Flint, Michigan, 1964-66 13
David Charles "Dave" Cull JP (1950-2021), New Zealand politician, 57th Mayor of Dunedin (2010-2019)
Alma Claude Burlton Cull (1880-1931), English marine painter
John Ernest Cull (1900-1964), English footballer who played from 1925 to 1936
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Cull family +

HMS Halsted

Mr. John Rowlands Cull (b. 1920), Canadian Royal Navy supply assistant from Corner Brook, Newfouland and Labrador was stationed aboard the "HMS Halsted" when it was struck by torpedo by Jaguar and Mowe of the Cherbourg coast on 11th June 1944, he did not survive

The Cull Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per mare per terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland Montreal: McGill's-Queen's University Press 1998. Print. (ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/enchantress
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/candahar
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html