NameCensus.

UK surname

Cullin

A variant of the Gaelic name Collin meaning "young dog or whelp".

In the 1881 census there were 215 people recorded with the Cullin surname, ranking it #12,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 90, ranked #32,202, down from #12,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Shropshire and West Berkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cullin is 376 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.1%.

1881 census count

215

Ranked #12,249

Modern count

90

2016, ranked #32,202

Peak year

1861

376 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Cullin had 215 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016, ranked #32,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 376 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cullin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cullin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cullin 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 218 #9,754
1861 historical 376 #6,792
1881 historical 215 #12,249
1891 historical 261 #12,337
1901 historical 186 #15,839
1911 historical 154 #17,553
1997 modern 102 #26,638
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 96 #28,534
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 91 #29,345
2005 modern 85 #30,219
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 98 #29,906
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 95 #30,877
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 94 #31,656
2014 modern 94 #31,909
2015 modern 90 #32,245
2016 modern 90 #32,202

Geography

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Where Cullins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Shropshire, West Berkshire and Ashfield. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 017 East Devon
2 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
3 Shropshire 028 Shropshire
4 West Berkshire 007 West Berkshire
5 Ashfield 013 Ashfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cullin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cullin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cullin, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Cullin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cullin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Cullin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cullin 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

Cullin falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cullin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cullin

The surname Cullin originated in Scotland, likely first appearing in the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "cuillean," which means "whelp" or "young dog." This suggests that the name may have been a nickname originally used to describe someone who was energetic or lively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls rendered to King Edward I of England. The entry "William Cullyn de Cullyn" appears, suggesting that the name was already associated with a specific location or landholding.

The Cullin surname is closely tied to the Scottish Highlands, particularly the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire. It is thought that the name may have originated in these areas, where the Gaelic language and culture were prevalent.

In the 16th century, records show a John Cullin who was a notary public in the town of Inverness in 1531. This provides evidence of the name's continued presence in the Highland regions during this time period.

One notable figure in Scottish history with the Cullin surname was Robert Cullin, born in 1640 in Argyll. He was a prominent Presbyterian minister and played a role in the Covenanter movement, which sought to preserve the independence of the Church of Scotland.

Another individual of historical significance was William Cullin, born in 1745 in Inverness-shire. He was a Scottish soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War, serving in the 42nd Regiment of Foot, also known as the Black Watch.

In the 19th century, a man named Alexander Cullin, born in 1812 in Argyll, gained recognition as a skilled stone mason and was involved in the construction of several notable buildings in Glasgow.

The Cullin surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Cullin on the Isle of Skye and Cullin Hills in Wester Ross. These place names may have originated from the surname itself or vice versa, further emphasizing the name's connection to the Scottish Highlands.

While the Cullin surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Gaelic language and culture, with connections to various regions, professions, and historical events throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cullin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cullin 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 85 Cullins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 85 3.42x
Middlesex 20 0.95x
Kent 14 1.96x
Yorkshire 14 0.67x
Hampshire 11 2.56x
Cheshire 9 1.94x
Glamorgan 9 2.46x
Devon 8 1.83x
Lincolnshire 8 2.39x
Lanarkshire 7 1.03x
Somerset 6 1.78x
Surrey 6 0.59x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.42x
Durham 3 0.48x
Gloucestershire 3 0.73x
Angus 2 1.03x
Cumberland 2 1.11x
Midlothian 2 0.71x
Dorset 1 0.73x
Norfolk 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 28 Cullins recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.52x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 28 18.52x
West Derby 22 30.22x
Warrington 14 47.46x
South Stoneham 10 107.30x
Manthorpe Cum Little 7 273.44x
Little Bolton 6 18.75x
Stoke Damerel 6 19.64x
Eglwysilan 5 78.86x
Lymm 5 148.37x
Batley 4 20.25x
Govan 4 2.38x
Islington London 4 1.97x
Kennington 4 754.72x
Normanby In 4 71.94x
Poplar London 4 10.11x
St Giles In Fields London 4 38.87x
Barony 3 1.75x
Bedminster 3 9.46x
Bermondsey 3 4.80x
Kirkdale 3 7.17x
Newark Upon Trent 3 29.53x
Spitalfields London 3 19.02x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 5.16x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.62x
Dundee 2 2.76x
Kensington London 2 1.72x
Little Lever 2 62.89x
Maidstone 2 9.39x
Marple 2 62.89x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 5.70x
Oswaldtwistle 2 22.75x
Preston Next Wingham 2 625.00x
Richmond 2 61.54x
Toxteth Park 2 2.37x
Wigan 2 5.75x
Willington 2 55.40x
Woolwich 2 7.56x
Workington 2 19.34x
Wrington 2 176.99x
Alverstoke 1 6.43x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.95x
Bath St Peter St Paul 1 67.11x
Battersea 1 1.30x
Birkdale 1 15.87x
Brightside Bierlow 1 2.45x
Cardiff St Mary 1 4.97x
Carlton In Lindrick 1 133.33x
Clapham 1 3.81x
Doncaster 1 6.59x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 14.43x
East Dereham 1 24.57x
Eastham 1 161.29x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 8.01x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.88x
Edmonton 1 5.92x
Filey 1 59.52x
Fordington 1 33.78x
Great Gonerby 1 116.28x
Great Neston 1 65.36x
Hammersmith London 1 1.94x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.70x
Hessle In Sculcoates 1 54.64x
Lambeth 1 0.55x
Manchester 1 0.89x
Rochester St Margaret 1 13.25x
South Brent 1 106.38x
St Clement Danes London 1 23.04x
Stapleton 1 12.82x
Swansea Town 1 3.34x
Totnes 1 39.22x
West Calder 1 18.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Ellen 6
Margaret 6
Sarah 6
Alice 5
Ann 5
Elizabeth 4
Emily 4
Catherine 3
Emma 3
Isabella 3
Jane 3
Rebecca 3
Agnes 2
Bridget 2
Kate 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Fanny 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Isabellan 1
Jessy 1
Julia 1
Kattie 1
Letta 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Maud 1
Miriam 1
Norah 1
Priscila 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Cullin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cullin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 215 people were recorded with the Cullin surname. That placed it at #12,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cullin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016. That gives Cullin a modern rank of #32,202.

What does the Cullin surname mean?

A variant of the Gaelic name Collin meaning "young dog or whelp".

What does the Cullin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cullin 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.