Cullen Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Cullen mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Cullen name
Cullen comes from Ó Cuilinn, "descendant of Cuileann", a name meaning "holly". The family belonged to the border country of Wicklow and Wexford, and the name is still most common in Leinster. Cullen is also a Scottish habitational name from Cullen in Banffshire. It is widespread in Ireland, Scotland and the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Cullen name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Cullen name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Scotland and England; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Cullen pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Cullen coat of arms for you.
Cullen name FAQ
What does the Cullen name mean?
Descendant of Cuileann ("holly"). Common variants include O'Cullen, McCullen, Cullane.
Where does the Cullen surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Scotland and England.
Is there a Cullen coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Cullen crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Cullen coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).