NameCensus.

UK surname

Cullinan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Cuileannain," meaning "descendant of Cuileannain," a personal name of uncertain meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Cullinan surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 446, ranked #10,871, up from #27,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Hackney and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cullinan is 467 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 869.6%.

1881 census count

46

Ranked #27,188

Modern count

446

2016, ranked #10,871

Peak year

1999

467 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cullinan had 46 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016, ranked #10,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Cullinan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cullinan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cullinan 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 46 #27,188
1891 historical 71 #27,934
1901 historical 91 #23,921
1911 historical 137 #18,880
1997 modern 428 #10,451
1998 modern 439 #10,602
1999 modern 467 #10,179
2000 modern 462 #10,212
2001 modern 442 #10,388
2002 modern 443 #10,577
2003 modern 420 #10,862
2004 modern 421 #10,866
2005 modern 410 #10,979
2006 modern 407 #11,087
2007 modern 405 #11,270
2008 modern 428 #10,869
2009 modern 445 #10,780
2010 modern 447 #10,966
2011 modern 446 #10,863
2012 modern 440 #10,849
2013 modern 451 #10,814
2014 modern 456 #10,781
2015 modern 456 #10,715
2016 modern 446 #10,871

Geography

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Where Cullinans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, St Marylebone, Bolton-le-Moors and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Hackney, Liverpool, East Hertfordshire and Mole Valley. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 009 Sunderland
2 Hackney 014 Hackney
3 Liverpool 059 Liverpool
4 East Hertfordshire 003 East Hertfordshire
5 Mole Valley 011 Mole Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cullinan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cullinan

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Cullinan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cullinan 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cullinan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cullinan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cullinan falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cullinan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Cullinan

The surname Cullinan originates from Ireland, where it first appeared in the 9th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "cuil" meaning "angle" or "corner" and "Iomhain" meaning "a meadow." The name likely referred to someone who lived in a meadow or lived near a particular landmark.

The Cullinan surname is found predominantly in County Mayo, where it is considered a principal family name. The earliest recorded example of the name appears in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle, in the year 845 AD, referring to a person named Culén mac Ailello.

In the 12th century, the surname is mentioned in the Book of Leinster, an important medieval Irish manuscript. The spelling "Cuillenayn" is used to refer to a family residing in the townland of Coolera, County Mayo.

Notable individuals with the surname Cullinan include Sir Thomas Cullinan (1564-1624), an Irish soldier and landowner who fought for the English crown during the Nine Years' War in Ireland. Another prominent figure was James Cullinan (1792-1879), an Irish engineer and inventor who devised a system for drilling artesian wells.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the name was Thomas Cullinan (1838-1905), the South African mining magnate who discovered the Cullinan Diamond in 1905, the largest rough diamond ever found. This remarkable gem was eventually cut into several smaller diamonds, including the Great Star of Africa and the Lesser Star of Africa, which are part of the British Crown Jewels.

Other historical figures with the Cullinan surname include Michael Cullinan (1862-1940), an Irish politician and Member of Parliament, and Patrick Cullinan (1880-1960), an Irish Jesuit priest and scholar who specialized in Celtic studies.

While the Cullinan name has Irish roots, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cullinan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cullinan 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 10 Cullinans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.88x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 1.88x
Yorkshire 10 2.25x
Middlesex 8 1.78x
Warwickshire 5 4.42x
Angus 4 9.62x
Durham 4 3.00x
Cheshire 1 1.01x
Cumberland 1 2.59x
Kent 1 0.65x
Norfolk 1 1.45x
Surrey 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 6 Cullinans recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.76x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 6 55.76x
Warrington 6 95.09x
Birmingham 5 13.26x
Hammersmith London 5 45.25x
Almondbury 4 186.05x
Great Bolton 4 56.74x
Liff Benvie 4 63.39x
Witton Gilbert 4 754.72x
Chester St John Baptist 1 56.18x
Cleator 1 62.11x
Milton In Gravesend 1 43.48x
Norwich St Julian 1 344.83x
Paddington London 1 6.06x
Richmond 1 32.68x
St George In East London 1 23.70x
Westminster St John 1 18.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Bridget 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Priscilla 2
(Mrs) 1
Agnes 1
Anastasia 1
Annie 1
Eliza 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Nellie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Edwd. 2
Michael 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
James 1
Peter 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cullinan households.

FAQ

Cullinan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cullinan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Cullinan surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cullinan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016. That gives Cullinan a modern rank of #10,871.

What does the Cullinan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Cuileannain," meaning "descendant of Cuileannain," a personal name of uncertain meaning.

What does the Cullinan map show?

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