Surname Cullings - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Cullings: What does the surname Cullings mean?
The surname Cullings is of English origin. It appears to have emerged from the Old English term "cylling," which translates to "young animal" or "runty," referring to baby animals that are small, weak, or sickly. Since surnames often arose from occupational nicknames, it's plausible to infer that this last name might have originally described someone who cared for, or dealt with young or weak animals, perhaps a farmer or a shepherd. Surnames could also derive from personal characteristics or physical traits, thus Cullings might have signified someone small or weak.
Additionally, it's important to note that last names could undergo spelling changes over centuries due to factors like regional dialects and phonetic spelling. Variations of the surname Cullings include Culling, Cullin, and Cullins. Always consider individual family history and regional influences for precise interpretation. Interpretations of the meaning behind this surname should therefore be seen as generally indicative rather than specific facts for individuals bearing this name.
Order DNA origin analysisCullings: Where does the name Cullings come from?
The surname Cullings is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English personal name 'Culling', which means 'the son of Cull'. This name was primarily found in the region of Suffolk, England during the Middle Ages. Its variants include Culling, Collings, or Cullings. Although it is not a very common surname, today it can be found in countries where English-speaking populations have migrated, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, it remains relatively infrequent and is often less commonly encountered than other surnames of similar origin. In the US, it is more common in states like Kentucky, California, and in particular, Michigan, where the highest number of Cullings families were found in the 1920 census. Due to historical migration and dispersion, the spread of this surname can reflect patterns of movement within the Anglo-Saxon world over the centuries.
Variations of the surname Cullings
The surname Cullings is an uncommon name that likely has English origins. Variations or related surnames may arise from misspellings, regional differences, or translation errors over generations and migrations.
Some variants and similar surnames could include: Collings, Cullings, Culling, Cullin, Cullens, and Cullis. These versions vary in spelling with the use of 'o' instead of 'u', the addition or deletion of 's' or 'g', or changing the final 's' to an 'is'.
There might also be slight variations such as Cullinns, Coulings, Cullinges, or Cullinss. These names largely retain their pronunciation but alter the combination of vowels and consonants.
An additional variation could be Kullings, where 'C' in the surname is replaced by 'K'. This can often be seen in names of Germanic or Slavic origin.
As for the origin of the surname, the natural assumption is English due to the use of 'C' instead of 'K', and it being a truthful surname, possibly derived from an occupation or descriptive term (culling). However, without more specific historical or genealogical data, determining the absolute origin of the surname Cullings can be challenging.
Remember, researching specific family history, migration patterns, and regional naming customs would provide the most accurate information.
Famous people with the name Cullings
There isn't a plethora (or extensive list) of famous people with the last name "Cullings". However, one notable person is Fred Cullings who is somewhat well-known in the world of sports, specifically softball. He served as the president of the British Columbia Amateur Softball Association. He played a pivotal role in integrating co-ed teams into mainstream softball leagues. Another person by the name of Wilfred Burchett also holds some importance in history. Burchett, originally named Harold, was an Australian journalist who was one of the first western journalists to visit Hiroshima after the atomic bomb explosion. He took the alias of Wilfred or "Peter" Cullings and worked for the communist newspaper, "The Daily Worker." However, it should be noted that "Cullings" in this context is more associated as an alias than a true surname. Keep in mind, there might be other notable persons with the last name 'Cullings' who may not be internationally famous or typically found in conventional or mainstream media. It's also possible that their notability may be associated with specific fields or localities.