Cula History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The rugged west coast of Scotland and the desolate Hebrides islands are the ancestral home of the Cula family. Their name indicates that the original bearer lived in Cullen in the Hebrides.

Early Origins of the Cula family

The surname Cula 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 Cula family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cula research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1424, 1435 and are included under the topic Early Cula History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cula Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Cula has been spelled Cull, Coll, Coole, Cula, Codolf and others.

Early Notables of the Cula family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Cula Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cula family to Ireland

Some of the Cula 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.

Cula migration to the United States +

The hardy Scots who made the crossing settled all along the east coast of North America and in the great west that was just then opening up. At the time of the American War of Independence, many United Empire Loyalists moved north from the American colonies to Canada. Scottish national heritage became better known in North America in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic events. An examination of immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Cula arrived in North America very early:

Cula Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Santiago Cula, aged 25, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1838 ^[3]

The Cula 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)