Contents [hide]

Cullum History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Cullum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the name Cullum date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in either of the settlements called Culham in the counties of Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The surname Cullum belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Cullum family

The surname Cullum was first found in Oxfordshire at Culham, a parish, in the union of Abingdon, hundred of Dorchester. 1

"This place, which is nearly surrounded by the river Isis, was the occasional retreat of the abbots of Abingdon; and in the ancient manor-house, now occupied as a farmhouse, is a room still called the Abbot's chamber." 2

While Oxfordshire is the ancient homestead of the family we must look to Berkshire for the first record of the family. For it is there that Vincent de Culeham was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212. 3 From this early start, we must move to the 16th century for the following two listings: John Cullum in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524; and William Culhame, or Colham, or Culme, who was listed in the Register of the University of Oxford in 1570. 1

Early History of the Cullum family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cullum research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1574, 1587, 1597, 1628, 1633, 1657, 1662, 1664, 1674, 1680, 1690, 1699, 1702, 1705, 1720, 1754, 1774 and 1855 are included under the topic Early Cullum History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cullum Spelling Variations

Cullum has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Cullum have been found, including Cullum, Culme, Cullam and others.

Early Notables of the Cullum family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir Hugh Cullum; Sir Henry Culmer (c. 1574-1633), 1st Baron Culmer; and Sir Richard Culmer (1597-1662), English peer; Thomas Cullum (c. 1587-1664), 1st Baronet of Hastede, Suffolk; Thomas Cullum (1628...
Sir Thomas Cullum (1587?-1664), was Sheriff of London and the second son of John Cullum of Thorndon, Suffolk. 4

Cullum Ranking

In the United States, the name Cullum is the 9,046^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Cullum family to Ireland

Some of the Cullum family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cullum migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Cullums to arrive on North American shores:

Cullum Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jane Cullum, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 6
Mary Cullum, who landed in Maryland in 1672 6

Cullum Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Cullum and her husband settled in Maryland in 1720

Cullum Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Cullum, her two daughters, her son George, and husband, settled in New York State in 1820

Cullum migration to Australia +

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

Cullum Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Charles Cullum, Canadian convict from Fredericton, New Brunswick, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on March 6, 1848, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 7

Cullum 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:

Cullum Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

S. W. Cullum, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1870

Contemporary Notables of the name Cullum (post 1700) +

Jim Cullum Jr. (1941-2019), American jazz cornetist in the Dixieland jazz tradition
W. B. Cullum, American politician, Candidate for West Virginia State Senate 2nd District, 1914 8
Paul F. Cullum, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1940, 1944, 1948 8
M. B. Cullum, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Duluth, Minnesota, 1904-08, 1910-12 8
Arthur Cullum, American politician, Mayor of Meadville, Pennsylvania, 1868 8
Albert G. J. Cullum, American politician, Representative from Kentucky 5th District, 1974, 1976 8
Robert Brooks Cullum (1912-1981), American businessman and civic leader in Dallas Texas
Leo Aloysius Cullum (1942-2010), American cartoonist, father of Kaitlin and Kimberley Cullum
Kimberly Cullum (b. 1981), American former child actress, sister of Kaitlin Cullum
Kaitlin Cullum (b. 1986), American actress, best known for her role as Libby Kelly in the sitcom Grace Under Fire
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Cullum 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: Sustineatur
Motto Translation: Let it be sustained.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land or Port Phillip, Australia in 1848 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1848
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html