Surname McCullah - Meaning and Origin
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McCullah: What does the surname McCullah mean?
The surname McCullah is of Scottish origin, believed to derive from a Gaelic family in ancient Dalriada, a kingdom on the western coast of Scotland in the late 6th to 9th centuries. The name McCullah is a variant of the more common "MacCulloch" which, broken down, means “son of” (Mac) “Boar” (Culloch). This could possibly signify a symbolic relationship with traits attributed to a boar, such as bravery or fierceness. Despite its Scottish roots, the name spread to other parts of the British Isles, notably Ireland, and eventually followed the paths of emigration to places like the United States, Canada, and Australia. In all these locations, various versions of the name may be found. Like many surnames, its exact meaning can be difficult to trace, compounded by regional variations and alterations over the centuries. However, family names form an important part of our cultural heritage, linking us to our ancestors and their lives.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCullah: Where does the name McCullah come from?
The surname McCullah is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cùgaill," meaning "son of Cùgaill." The McCullah name belongs to a subgroup of surnames known as patronymic names, which are based on the first name of the father. The term "Cùgaill" translates to "cockerel" in English. It was likely used as a nickname before becoming a surname.
The McCullahs were historically associated with Argyll, located in the Highlands of Scotland. Today, the surname has spread across many English-speaking countries due to migration and is found in Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia among others. The spelling of the name has been modified in many instances, resulting in multiple variations like McCullagh, McCullogh, and MacCulloch to name a few, which are more common than McCullah itself.
According to statistical analysis, the highest concentration of people with the McCullah surname are found in the United States followed by England. However, in comparison to other surnames, McCullah remains relatively rare.
Variations of the surname McCullah
The surname McCullah has numerous variations and spellings, primarily due to oral tradition and phonetic transcription over the centuries. Some of these alternate spellings include McCullough, McCulla, McCulloch, McCoullagh, McCullagh, and MacCulloch.
In addition to these, other variants could include MacCullough, McCoulloch, McCoullach, McCullgah, and even McCoulough. Surnames of similar origin, derived from the Irish or Scottish Gaels, might include MacCulla, MacCullagh, MacCulloh, MacCullaugh, or even MacCullock is feasible.
The prefix ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ in a surname is an Irish or Scottish term for ‘son of’. The root of this surname, ‘cullach’ can mean "boar" in Gaelic, but could also mean "place of the holly" (cullach) in Scots Gaelic. Similarly, the Scottish surname McCulloch is usually said to be derived from "son of the boar," but it's possible it might instead mean "someone from a place of holly."
It's important to note that variations could have emerged depending on geographic location, dialect and local pronunciation.
Famous people with the name McCullah
- Will McCullah: American reality TV star
- David McCullah: American composer
- Jeff McCullah: American actor and singer
- Leland McCullah: American former professional football player
- John McCullah: American writer
- Diana McCullah: American singer, songwriter, and activist
- Donna McCullah: regionally renowned floral artist
- Jenna McCullah: American actress
- Lenny McCullah: American basketball player
- Dan McCullah: Writer/sports columnist.