Show ContentsCulver History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Culver come from its first bearer, who was a person bearing some fancied resemblance to a dove, such as mildness of temper. The surname Culver is derived from the Old English word culfre, which in turn came from the Late Latin word columbula; this is a derivative of columba, which means dove. The nickname culfre was also used as a term of endearment. 1

Early Origins of the Culver family

The surname Culver was first found in Herefordshire where one of the first records of the name was William Culvere, or Culvert who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same roll lists Jon Culvard, or Culverd, or Culvert in Oxfordshire. 1 Geoffrey Kuluer was listed in a census dated 1215-1219 and Thomas Colvere was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Kent in 1334. 2

Early History of the Culver family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Culver research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1273 is included under the topic Early Culver History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Culver Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Culver has been spelled many different ways, including Culver, Culvere and others.

Early Notables of the Culver family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Culver of Herefordshire

Culver Ranking

In the United States, the name Culver is the 1,823rd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 3


Culver migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Culvers to arrive in North America:

Culver Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Culver, who landed in Dedham, Massachusetts in 1640 4
  • Edward Culver of Dedham, Massachusetts, was a wheelwright who settled there before 1640. He and his family moved to New London about 1653
  • Henry Culver, who arrived in Maryland in 1679 4
Culver Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Calvin Culver, who settled in New Orleans in 1821
  • W. B. Culver settled in San Francisco, California in 1850
  • W Culver, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
  • A B Culver, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
  • Master Culver, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Culver migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Culver Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Rev. Jabez Culver, "Collver, Colver" U.E. (b. 1731) born in Groton, New London, Connecticut, USA from Sussex County, New Jersey, USA who settled in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada c. 1783 he died in 1818 5
  • Mr. Timothy Culver, "Collver, Colver" Sr., U.E. (b. 1740) born in Sussex County, New Jersey, USA from Sussex County, New Jersey, USA who settled in Home District, Townsend [Norfolk], Long Point, Ontario c. 1795 he died in 1813 in Norfolk, Ontario, Canada 5
Culver Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Chester Culver, who arrived in Canada in 1828
  • Moses Culver, who landed in Canada in 1841

Culver migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Culver Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Culver, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
  • Mr. Richard Culver, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
  • Mr. William Culver, English convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 8
  • John Culver, aged 25, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Clara"

Culver migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Culver Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Henry Culver, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Culver (post 1700) +

  • Henry Harrison Culver (1840-1897), American businessman and philanthropist, founder of Culver Academies in 1894
  • George Culver (b. 1943), American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1966 to 1974
  • George Culver, American restaurateur, founder of Culver's in 1984, a privately owned and operated fast casual restaurant chain now with 651 locations throughout the United States
  • Knight K. Culver, American businessman, co-founder of the Culver Aircraft Company, an American aircraft manufacturer of light aircraft in 1939 but later declared bankruptcy in 1946
  • John Culver (b. 1932), American politician, United States Senator from Iowa (1975-1981), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 2nd district (1965-1975)
  • Ellsworth Culver (1927-2005), American humanitarian/aid worker and co-founder of Mercy Corps International
  • Andrew Culver (1832-1906), American founder of the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad, also known as the "Culver Route" or "Culver Line"
  • Howard Culver (1918-1984), American radio and television actor, best known for his role as Howie Uzzell for radio and television versions of Gunsmoke
  • John C Culver, American lawyer and politician, Junior Senator from Iowa
  • Harry Culver (1880-1946), American real-estate developer, founder of Culver City, California
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Culver +

  • Colver-Culver Family Genealogy by Valerie Dyer Giorgi.
  • Edward Culver, John Porter and Mary Estey: A Line of Descent from Two Puritans and a Salem Witch by Marilyn V. Squires Mills.

  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian


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