Culkin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Dalriada, in ancient Scotland, is where the name Culkin evolved. It was a name for someone who lived in Cullen in the Hebrides.
Early Origins of the Culkin family
The surname Culkin 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 Culkin family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Culkin research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1424, 1435 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Culkin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Culkin Spelling Variations
Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. Culkin has been written as Cull, Coll, Coole, Cula, Codolf and others.
Early Notables of the Culkin family
More information is included under the topic Early Culkin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Culkin family to Ireland
Some of the Culkin 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.
Culkin migration to the United States +
Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Culkin, or a variant listed above:
Culkin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Thomas Culkin, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1854 3
Culkin migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Culkin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- Mr. Michael Culkin, aged 32 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Jardine" departing 4th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 16th July 1847 but he died on board 4
Contemporary Notables of the name Culkin (post 1700) +
- William Edgar Culkin (1861-1949), American politician, Member of Minnesota State Senate 38th District, 1895-97 5
- Mary Kate Culkin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 2000 (alternate), 2004, 2008 5
- John Patrick Henry Culkin (1887-1951), American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1928; Member of Mississippi State Senate, 1929-42 5
- Gerald Patrick Culkin (1906-1993), American politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 1st District, 1968-76 5
- Francis Dugan Culkin (1874-1943), American Republican politician, County Judge in New York, 1921-28; U.S. Representative from New York 32nd District, 1928-43 5
- Charles W. Culkin (1872-1962), American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1948, 1952 5
- Bonnie Culkin (b. 1948), birth name of Bonnie Bedelia, American actress
The Culkin 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
- 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)
- Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 71)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html