Cullom History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The present generation of the Cullom family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in either of the settlements called Culham in the counties of Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The surname Cullom 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 Cullom family

The surname Cullom 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 Cullom family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cullom 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 Cullom History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cullom 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 Cullom include Cullum, Culme, Cullam and others.

Early Notables of the Cullom 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 (1628-1680), 2nd Baronet of Hastede; Sir Dudley Cullum, 3rd Baronet of Hastede (1657-1720)...
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cullom Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cullom family to Ireland

Some of the Cullom 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.

Migration of the Cullom family

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 Cullom were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Elizabeth Cullum and her husband settled in Maryland in 1720; another Elizabeth Cullum, her two daughters, her son George, and husband, settled in New York State in 1820..

Contemporary Notables of the name Cullom (post 1700) +

William Cullom (1810-1896), American politician, Representative from Tennessee, 1851-55; Delegate to Whig National Convention from Tennessee, 1852 4
Shelby Moore Cullom (1829-1914), American Republican politician, Member of Illinois State House of Representatives, 1856, 1860-61, 1872-74; Governor of Illinois, 1877-83; U.S. Senator from Illinois, 1883-1913 4
Henry C. Cullom, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Joliet, Illinois, 1890-94 4
Edward N. Cullom, American politician, Delegate to Illinois State Constitutional Convention from Crawford County, 1818 4
Alvin Cullom (1797-1877), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Tennessee State House of Representatives, 1835-37; U.S. Representative from Tennessee 4th District, 1843-47; Circuit Judge in Tennessee, 1850-52 4
James Henry Cullom (1925-1998), American NFL football guard for the New York Yanks in 1951
Alvan Cullom (1797-1877), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee (1843-1847)
William Cullom (1810-1896), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee (1851-1853)
Shelby Moore Cullom (1829-1914), American politician, 17th Governor of Illinois (1877-1883)
Shelby Cullom Davis (1909-1994), American investment banker, philanthropist, and former United States Ambassador to Switzerland

The Cullom 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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html