McCullow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

History reveals the roots of the McCullow family name in the ancient Strathclyde people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The McCullow name is derived from the Gaelic personal name Cullach, meaning boar.

Early Origins of the McCullow family

The surname McCullow was first found in Wigtownshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhaile na h-Uige), formerly a county in southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway where one of the first on record was Andrew MacCulloch who served King William the Lion of Scotland and received the lands of Myretoun (now Monreith near Whitehorn in Wigtown). However ancient records show the Clan as being mentioned in the year 743 in that area.

Early History of the McCullow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCullow research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1354, 1470, 1640, 1697 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCullow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCullow Spelling Variations

Prior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of spelling variations in Scottish names. McCullow has been spelled MacCulloch, MacCullagh, MacCully, MacCullough, MacCulley, MacCullaugh, MacCullock, MacCullie, MacLulich and many more.

Early Notables of the McCullow family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Sir Godfrey McCulloch, 2nd Baronet of Mertoun (c.1640-1697), a Scottish politician executed for the murder of William Gordon who died from a shot in the leg, partly as a result of a long-standing feud. Following the execution, much of his family emigrated to America...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCullow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McCullow family to Ireland

Some of the McCullow family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCullow migration to Canada +

In such difficult times, the difficulties of raising the money to cross the Atlantic to North America did not seem so large compared to the problems of keeping a family together in Scotland. It was a journey well worth the cost, since it was rewarded with land and freedom the Scots could not find at home. The American War of Independence solidified that freedom, and many of those settlers went on to play important parts in the forging of a great nation. Among them:

McCullow Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Daniel McCullow, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
Christopher McCullow, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
Biddy McCullow, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
Mary McCullow, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
Catherine McCullow, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833

The McCullow 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: Vi et animo
Motto Translation: By strength and courage.