NameCensus.

UK surname

Culbert

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "cool bright stream."

In the 1881 census there were 231 people recorded with the Culbert surname, ranking it #11,722 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 416, ranked #11,533, up from #11,722 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Cupar and Anstruther Easter and Wester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Barlanark and Easterhouse South, North Lincolnshire and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Culbert is 452 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.1%.

1881 census count

231

Ranked #11,722

Modern count

416

2016, ranked #11,533

Peak year

2010

452 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Culbert had 231 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,722 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 416 in 2016, ranked #11,533.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 271 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Culbert surname distribution map

The map shows where the Culbert surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Culbert surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Culbert over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 240 #9,068
1861 historical 270 #9,216
1881 historical 231 #11,722
1891 historical 249 #12,813
1901 historical 271 #12,462
1911 historical 157 #17,348
1997 modern 369 #11,690
1998 modern 368 #12,096
1999 modern 377 #11,954
2000 modern 395 #11,503
2001 modern 392 #11,384
2002 modern 410 #11,226
2003 modern 404 #11,191
2004 modern 418 #10,923
2005 modern 405 #11,078
2006 modern 412 #10,976
2007 modern 420 #10,943
2008 modern 419 #11,058
2009 modern 446 #10,755
2010 modern 452 #10,880
2011 modern 439 #10,995
2012 modern 443 #10,796
2013 modern 450 #10,831
2014 modern 444 #11,021
2015 modern 425 #11,346
2016 modern 416 #11,533

Geography

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Where Culberts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Cupar, Anstruther Easter and Wester, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Barlanark and Easterhouse South, North Lincolnshire, Wigan, South Cambridgeshire and Leslie and Newcastle. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Stockport Cheshire
2 Cupar Fife
3 Anstruther Easter and Wester Fife
4 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Barlanark and Easterhouse South Glasgow City
2 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire
3 Wigan 031 Wigan
4 South Cambridgeshire 012 South Cambridgeshire
5 Leslie and Newcastle Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Culbert

These lists show first names that appear often with the Culbert surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Culbert

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Culbert, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Culbert surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Culbert household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Culbert is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Culbert is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Culbert falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Culbert is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Culbert, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Culbert

The surname Culbert originated in England, primarily in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cul," meaning "cool" or "cold," and "beorht," meaning "bright" or "shining." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a cool or shaded area.

The earliest recorded instances of the Culbert surname can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners in England, there are mentions of individuals with the surname Culberd and Culbert living in Yorkshire.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert Culbert, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. Another notable early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, which included a William Culbert.

The Culbert surname is not found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, its absence from this record does not necessarily indicate that the name did not exist at that time, as many surnames were still in the process of formation during the 11th century.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Culbert. One of the earliest was John Culbert, a merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived in the late 14th century. Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir William Culbert, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century.

In the 17th century, Thomas Culbert was a prominent businessman and landowner in Lancashire. He was involved in the textile trade and owned several mills in the region.

During the 18th century, James Culbert was a renowned mathematician and astronomer. He was born in Yorkshire in 1732 and made significant contributions to the field of celestial navigation.

In the 19th century, Mary Culbert was a notable author and poet from Lancashire. She published several collections of poetry and was known for her vivid descriptions of the English countryside.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Culbert surname throughout history. The name has a long and rich heritage, with its roots firmly planted in the northern counties of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Culbert families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Culbert surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 24 Culberts recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.91x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 24 0.91x
Fife 22 16.71x
Midlothian 21 7.05x
Perthshire 19 19.03x
Renfrewshire 18 10.44x
Cheshire 17 3.46x
Ayrshire 16 9.61x
Angus 15 7.28x
Middlesex 14 0.63x
Durham 11 1.66x
Lanarkshire 10 1.39x
Clackmannanshire 6 32.66x
Cumberland 6 3.13x
Glamorgan 6 1.55x
West Lothian 4 11.94x
Gloucestershire 3 0.69x
Hampshire 3 0.66x
Stirlingshire 3 3.66x
Yorkshire 3 0.14x
Peeblesshire 2 19.12x
Argyllshire 1 1.62x
Devon 1 0.22x
Essex 1 0.23x
Leicestershire 1 0.41x
Sussex 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cathcart in Renfrewshire leads with 14 Culberts recorded in 1881 and an index of 150.05x.

Place Total Index
Cathcart 14 150.05x
Kilmadock 13 565.22x
Cupar 12 209.42x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 9.18x
Hulme 10 18.15x
Stockport 10 39.57x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 9 127.66x
Heworth 8 61.35x
Everton 7 8.32x
Markinch 7 156.60x
Arbroath 6 87.85x
Arlecdon 6 117.88x
Cardiff St John 6 47.43x
Cheadle 6 63.97x
Clackmannan 6 172.91x
Dalmellington 6 122.70x
Muirkirk 5 127.88x
St George Hanover Square 5 12.76x
St Vigeans 5 44.96x
Barony 4 2.20x
Bathgate 4 55.02x
Bromley London 4 8.17x
Govan 4 2.25x
Paisley Middle Church 4 39.88x
Culross 3 348.84x
Ferry Port On Craig 3 138.25x
Alva 2 51.15x
Bristol St George 2 9.92x
Dundee 2 2.60x
Glasgow 2 1.57x
Maybole 2 39.45x
Newlands 2 317.46x
North Meols 2 7.74x
Southampton St Mary 2 6.98x
St Luke London 2 5.61x
St Pancras London 2 1.12x
Windle 2 13.47x
Bovey Tracey 1 61.73x
Chester Castle 1 384.62x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 1 57.80x
Galston 1 21.98x
Iveston 1 32.79x
Kilmarnock 1 5.05x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 25.45x
Kinclaven 1 222.22x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 56.50x
Leicester All Sts 1 20.66x
Liff Benvie 1 3.20x
Little Dunkeld 1 59.17x
Liverpool 1 0.62x
Loudoun 1 25.00x
Middlesbrough 1 3.48x
Middlestone 1 75.19x
Mirfield 1 8.26x
Monifieth 1 13.74x
Newton Cap 1 97.09x
Perth St Pauls 1 43.29x
Portsea 1 1.12x
Portslade 1 43.67x
Spitalfields London 1 5.98x
Stirling 1 9.67x
Tetbury 1 40.49x
Wardleworth 1 6.63x
West Derby 1 1.30x
West Ham 1 1.03x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Culbert surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 4
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Jane 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Daisy 1
Florence 1
Jessie 1
Lucy 1
Merah 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Culbert surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 11
James 6
Thomas 6
William 6
Henry 2
Ralph 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1

FAQ

Culbert surname: questions and answers

How common was the Culbert surname in 1881?

In 1881, 231 people were recorded with the Culbert surname. That placed it at #11,722 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Culbert surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 416 in 2016. That gives Culbert a modern rank of #11,533.

What does the Culbert surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "cool bright stream."

What does the Culbert map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Culbert bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.