Culman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Culman come from when the family resided in either of the settlements called Culham in the counties of Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The surname Culman 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 Culman family

The surname Culman 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 Culman family

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

Culman Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Culman has been recorded under many different variations, including Cullum, Culme, Cullam and others.

Early Notables of the Culman 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 Culman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Culman family to Ireland

Some of the Culman 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.

Culman migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Culman or a variant listed above:

Culman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Walter Culman, who landed in Mississippi in 1869 4

The Culman 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)
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)