NameCensus.

UK surname

Cully

A surname derived from the Old French word "cul", meaning buttocks or backside.

In the 1881 census there were 336 people recorded with the Cully surname, ranking it #8,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 445, ranked #10,890, down from #8,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Kintbury and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broomridge, Warrington and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cully is 451 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.4%.

1881 census count

336

Ranked #8,996

Modern count

445

2016, ranked #10,890

Peak year

2011

451 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cully had 336 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 445 in 2016, ranked #10,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 405 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cully surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cully surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cully 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 255 #8,652
1861 historical 292 #8,626
1881 historical 336 #8,996
1891 historical 341 #10,041
1901 historical 405 #9,405
1911 historical 245 #13,084
1997 modern 428 #10,451
1998 modern 436 #10,663
1999 modern 435 #10,754
2000 modern 434 #10,730
2001 modern 426 #10,697
2002 modern 439 #10,656
2003 modern 432 #10,635
2004 modern 427 #10,749
2005 modern 428 #10,619
2006 modern 433 #10,564
2007 modern 427 #10,782
2008 modern 437 #10,694
2009 modern 433 #11,031
2010 modern 444 #11,017
2011 modern 451 #10,766
2012 modern 437 #10,915
2013 modern 443 #10,968
2014 modern 446 #10,981
2015 modern 440 #11,017
2016 modern 445 #10,890

Geography

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Where Cullys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Girvan, Kintbury, Halifax, London parishes and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Broomridge, Warrington, Brent, Cotswold and Carlisle. 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 Girvan Ayr
2 Kintbury Berkshire
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Broomridge Stirling
2 Warrington 005 Warrington
3 Brent 033 Brent
4 Cotswold 009 Cotswold
5 Carlisle 008 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cully

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cully

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cully, 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 Cully surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cully 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cully 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

Cully is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cully falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cully 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 Cully, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cully

The surname Cully is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "culian," meaning "to embrace" or "to fondle." The name first appeared in the county of Lincolnshire, England, during the late 11th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror, there are several references to individuals with the surname Cully, spelled as "Cullie" or "Culley." These early recordings suggest that the name was initially associated with individuals who were affectionate or loving in nature.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Cully was Sir John Cully, who was born in 1287 in the village of Spalding, Lincolnshire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry.

During the 14th century, the name Cully began to spread across other parts of England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. Records from this period show variations in the spelling, such as "Cullie," "Culley," and "Cully."

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Cully was William Cully, born in 1523 in Norfolk. He was a prominent merchant and trader, known for his involvement in the thriving wool trade between England and the Netherlands.

Another significant individual with the surname Cully was Sir Robert Cully, born in 1612 in Suffolk. He was a respected military officer who served under Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War and later became a member of Parliament.

During the 18th century, the name Cully was associated with several place names in England, such as Cully Green in Hertfordshire and Cully Bridge in Cambridgeshire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname Cully who owned or lived in those areas.

One of the most notable figures with the surname Cully was Sir Thomas Cully, born in 1745 in Norfolk. He was a renowned agriculturist and author of several books on farming practices, including "The Principles of Agriculture" published in 1786.

Throughout its history, the surname Cully has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, military officers, and agriculturists. While the name originated in Lincolnshire, it eventually spread across England and became associated with different regions and place names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cully families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cully 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. Middlesex leads with 44 Cullys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.36x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 44 1.36x
Lancashire 32 0.84x
Surrey 30 1.91x
Durham 22 2.29x
Lanarkshire 22 2.11x
Norfolk 18 3.63x
Sussex 16 2.94x
Berkshire 15 6.19x
Cornwall 15 4.10x
Hampshire 12 1.81x
Nottinghamshire 12 2.76x
Yorkshire 12 0.38x
Northumberland 9 1.87x
Essex 8 1.26x
Wiltshire 8 2.80x
Angus 7 2.34x
Warwickshire 7 0.86x
Ayrshire 6 2.48x
Cumberland 6 2.16x
Gloucestershire 5 0.79x
Wigtownshire 5 11.66x
Oxfordshire 4 2.01x
Glamorgan 2 0.36x
Herefordshire 2 1.51x
Hertfordshire 2 0.90x
Northamptonshire 2 0.66x
Somerset 2 0.38x
Suffolk 2 0.51x
Worcestershire 2 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.49x
Royal Navy 1 2.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cadder in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Cullys recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.70x.

Place Total Index
Cadder 10 129.70x
Mabe 10 1333.33x
Gateshead 9 12.51x
Hornsey 9 22.04x
Monk Hesleden 9 335.82x
Brighton 8 7.28x
Bulwell 8 84.57x
Islington London 8 2.56x
Little Bolton 8 16.24x
West Ham 8 5.69x
Birmingham 7 2.58x
Govan 7 2.71x
Lambeth 7 2.49x
St Mary Bourne 7 583.33x
Streatham 7 29.22x
Westminster St John 7 17.80x
Baildon 6 99.67x
Dalston Buckabank 6 1071.43x
Dundee 6 5.37x
Halifax 6 12.77x
Kintbury 6 320.86x
Manchester 6 3.48x
Welford 6 576.92x
Bermondsey 5 5.20x
Burnham Thorpe 5 1282.05x
Croydon 5 5.73x
Everton 5 4.09x
Girvan 5 82.37x
Liverpool 5 2.15x
Norwich St James 5 128.53x
Poplar London 5 8.20x
St Gluvias Penryn 5 170.65x
Barony 4 1.51x
Horton 4 168.78x
Marston 4 701.75x
Newchurch 4 12.76x
Alverstoke 3 12.53x
Dilham 3 638.30x
Ditchling 3 202.70x
Keymer 3 78.13x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.67x
Portpatrick 3 208.33x
Ruardean 3 209.79x
Shoreditch London 3 2.14x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 4.62x
Swindon 3 13.54x
Tynemouth 3 11.66x
Westminster St Margaret 3 19.27x
Wroughton 3 121.46x
Alby 2 714.29x
Bath St James 2 36.90x
Cardiff St John 2 10.89x
Poulton 2 400.00x
St Marylebone London 2 1.16x
Walford 2 151.52x
Bassingbourn 1 33.22x
Beith 1 13.87x
Bothwell 1 3.53x
Cramlington 1 15.75x
Devizes St James 1 26.39x
East Woodhay 1 59.17x
Finchley 1 8.08x
Great Faringdon 1 28.74x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 35.97x
Jesmond 1 14.79x
Kensington London 1 0.56x
Kings Norton 1 2.64x
Lochee 1 37.45x
Millbrook 1 6.00x
Newington 1 0.84x
Northampton Priory St 1 5.49x
Paddington London 1 0.84x
Preston 1 10.52x
Preston 1 0.98x
Redenhall 1 51.81x
Royal Navy 1 3.04x
St Anne Soho London 1 5.42x
Thorpe Next Haddiscoe 1 1000.00x
Trimdon 1 29.41x
Whithorn 1 30.58x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
James 16
William 13
Thomas 9
Edward 6
Frederick 5
Joseph 5
Benjamin 4
Charles 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
George 3
Henry 3
Lewis 3
Robert 3
Robt. 3
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Francis 2
Lawrence 2
Walter 2
Agustas 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Emanuel 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Job 1
Laurence 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Miles 1
Newman 1
Percy 1
Stephen 1
Thos.Jos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Cully surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cully surname in 1881?

In 1881, 336 people were recorded with the Cully surname. That placed it at #8,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cully surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 445 in 2016. That gives Cully a modern rank of #10,890.

What does the Cully surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "cul", meaning buttocks or backside.

What does the Cully map show?

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