Cullen is a surname of Irish and Gaelic origin. Considered by many to mean "handsome," Cullen is better linked to the Ancient Gaelic name Cuileannain which means "son of the holy one." It is thought to be derived from the pre 8th century Old Gaelic name O' Cuileannain or Ó Cuilinn, with the prefix O' indicating a male descendant of, plus the personal byname Cuilleannain. The name seems to be related to Cullinane. While Cullen is encountered primarily in

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 ...

and southeast Ireland, Cullinan/Cullinane used almost exclusively in western Ireland on a north–south-Axis from

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a City status in Ireland, city in the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lo ...

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

. A distribution map of the name has been processed on a

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kin ...

site.http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tullycorker/cullenmarked.gif Cullen is also found as an ancient surname in Scotland and England; an example being the Baronets Cullen.

Notable people

Adam Cullen Adam Frederick Cullen (9 October 1965 – 28 July 2012) was an Australian artist, most known for winning the Archibald Prize in 2000 with a portrait of actor David Wenham. He was also known for his controversial subjects and his distincti ...

, Australian artist *

Alexander Lamb Cullen Alexander Lamb Cullen, (30 April 1920 – 27 December 2013) was a British electrical engineer. Career and research Cullen served as the Head of Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at University College London where he hel ...

(1920–2013), British electrical engineer *

Alice Cullen (politician) Alice Cullen, (née McLaughlin; 18 March 1891 – 31 May 1969) was a Scottish Labour Party politician. She was the first female Roman Catholic Member of Parliament. Early life Educated at Lochwinnoch Elementary School, Cullen was a hous ...

, UK politician *

Archibald Howard Cullen Archibald Howard Cullen (24 September 188716 June 1968) was the sixth Bishop of Grahamstown. Early life and education He was born on 24 September 1887 to William and Louisa (née Howard). He was baptized in the Parish of St Jude, Peckham, London ...

, bishop of Grahamstown, South Africa *

Bill Cullen William Lawrence Francis Cullen (February 18, 1920 – July 7, 1990) was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades. His biggest claim to fame was as a game show host; over the course of his career, he host ...

, American game show host * Bill Cullen (businessman), Irish businessman and philanthropist *

Brett Cullen Peter Brett Cullen (born August 26, 1956) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Dan Fixx in ''Falcon Crest'' (1986-1988), Sam Cain in '' The Young Riders'' (1989-1990), Governor Ray Sullivan in ''The West Wing'' (2005-2006), Go ...

, American actor *

Bud Cullen Jack Sydney George "Bud" Cullen, (April 20, 1927 – July 5, 2005) was a Canadian Federal Court judge and politician. Early years Born in Creighton Mine, Ontario, Cullen was given the nickname of Bud by his mother when he was a young boy ...

, Canadian Federal Court judge *

Charles Cullen Charles Edmund Cullen (born February 22, 1960) is an American serial killer. Cullen, a nurse, murdered dozens – possibly hundreds – of patients during a 16-year career spanning several New Jersey medical centers, until being arrested in 200 ...

, nurse and serial killer *

Christian Cullen Christian Mathias Cullen (born 12 February 1976) is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand (the All Blacks), for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later ...

, New Zealand rugby player *

Countee Cullen Countee Cullen (born Countee LeRoy Porter; May 30, 1903 – January 9, 1946) was an American poet, novelist, children's writer, and playwright, particularly well known during the Harlem Renaissance. Early life Childhood Countee LeRoy Porter ...

, African American poet of the Harlem Renaissance *

Dan Cullen Daniel James Cullen (born 10 April 1984) is a former Australian first-class cricketer who played for South Australia and Somerset in a career that lasted from 2004 to 2009. He was a right-arm off break bowler who appeared six times for Austr ...

, Australian cricketer *

Danny Cullen Danny Cullen (born 1987/8) is a hurler. He plays for Setanta, the Donegal county team and the Ireland national team. He has won three Nicky Rackard Cups and represented Ireland against Scotland in the Shinty-Hurling International Series ...

, Irish hurler * Edgar M. Cullen, Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, 1904–1913 * Eric Cullen, Scottish comedy actor *

Francis Cullen Francis Thomas Cullen, Jr. (born March 2, 1951) is an American criminologist and Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Cincinnati's School of Criminal Justice. Education and career Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1951, C ...

, American criminologist *

Geoff Cullen Geoffrey Ian Cullen (born 16 March 1977) is a former professional Australian cricketer who played a single match for Western Australia during the 2000–01 season. From Perth, Cullen played matches for the state second XI and colts teams from th ...

(born 1977), Australian cricketer *

Gordon Cullen Thomas Gordon Cullen (9 August 1914 – 11 August 1994) was an influential British architect and urban designer who was a key motivator in the Townscape movement. Cullen presented a new theory and methodology for urban visual analysis and design b ...

, English architect * Helen F. Cullen (1919–2007), American mathematician *

Hugh Roy Cullen Hugh Roy Cullen (July 3, 1881 – July 4, 1957) was an American industrialist and philanthropist. Cullen was heavily involved in the petroleum industry having struck oil near Texas in 1928. He was a large supporter of multiple educational institu ...

, American oil businessman and philanthropist *

Ian Cullen George Ian Cullen (20 October 1939 – 12 November 2019) was a British actor. Cullen first became interested in acting when appearing in a pantomime aged four (late 1943). He trained at RADA with a scholarship when he was 16. An early televis ...

(1939–2019), British actor *

Jack Cullen John Patrick Cullen (born October 6, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American retired professional baseball player. The right-handed pitcher appeared in 19 games in Major League Baseball as a member of the New York Yankees (1962, 1965– ...

, American baseball pitcher *

James Cullen (mathematician) Father James Cullen, S.J. (19 April 1867 – 7 December 1933) was born at Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. He was born at 89 West Street, Drogheda, to Michael Cullen, a baker, and Catherine McDonough. Initially, he was educated privately, ...

, described Cullen numbers *

James Cullen (PTAA) James Aloysius Cullen (23 October 1841 New Ross County Wexford - 6 December 1921 Dublin) was an Irish Catholic priest who founded the Irish ''Messenger of the Sacred Heart'' and the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association (PTAA) Life James Aloysius ...

, founder of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association * James P. Cullen, US brigadier general *

Jane Lunnon Jane Teresa Lunnon (born 1969) is an English schoolteacher and headmistress, currently head of Alleyn's School, Dulwich, and previously of Wimbledon High School. Before that, Lunnon was Deputy Head of Wellington College, Berkshire. Early life Lu ...

, maiden name Cullen (born 1969), English headmistress *

Joe Cullen (American football) Joe Cullen (born December 15, 1967) is an American football coach who is the defensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens, Tampa ...

, American football coach *

Joe Cullen (darts player) Joe Cullen (born 13 July 1989) is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He won three Youth Tour tournaments in his early career and has qualified for the PDC World Championship twelve t ...

(born 1989), English darts player * John Cullen (disambiguation), several people *

Jonathan Cullen Jonathan Cullen (born 1960) is a British actor of stage, film and television. Personal life Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Cullen's father was Tony Cullen, a founding member of the Northern Sinfonia. He was educated at the Royal ...

, English actor *

Joseph Cullen Joseph Francis Cullen (1 February 1849 – 31 March 1917), Australian journalist and politician, was a Member of Parliament in New South Wales and Western Australia. Born in Jamberoo, New South Wales around 1849, Joseph Cullen was the son of f ...

, Australian politician *

Leo Cullen (rugby union) Leo Francis Matthew Cullen (born 9 January 1978) is an Irish rugby coach and former professional rugby union player. He played at lock for Leinster Rugby and Ireland. He was appointed coach of Leinster rugby on 19 August 2015. Early life and e ...

, Irish rugby player * Lori Cullen, Canadian singer-songwriter *

Matt Cullen Matthew David Cullen (born November 2, 1976) is an American former professional ice hockey center who played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with eight teams between 1997 and 2019 with. Cullen won the Stanley Cup three times du ...

, NHL hockey player *

Martin Cullen Martin Cullen (born 2 November 1954) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism from 2008 to 2010, Minister for Social and Family Affairs from 2007 to 2008, Minister for Transport from 2004 to ...

, Irish politician *

Maurice Cullen (boxer) Maurice Cullen (30 December 1937 – November 2001) was an English lightweight boxer, who held the British Lightweight Title, defending it four times. Boxing style Cullen had a style that very much centred round his left jab. He had problems w ...

, English boxer * Michael Cullen (disambiguation), several people * Mick Cullen, Scottish footballer * Mortimer A. Cullen (1891–1954), New York politician *

Nathan Cullen Nathan Cullen (born July 13, 1972) is a Canadian politician. A member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), he is the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Stikine in British Columbia. He has served in the Executive Council of British Columb ...

, Canadian Member of Parliament * Nigel Cullen (1917–1941), Australian fighter ace *

Nora Cullen Nora Cullen (1905–1990) was an Argentine actress. Cullen starred in several films with director Leonardo Favio, including ''El dependiente'' (1969), '' Nazareno Cruz y el Lobo'' (1975) and '' Soñar, soñar'' (1976). For her performance opposit ...

(1905–1990), Argentine actress * John Michael Cullen, Australian ornithologist *

Paul Cullen (bishop) Paul Cardinal Cullen (29 April 1803 – 24 October 1878) was Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and previously of Armagh, and the first Irish cardinal. His Ultramontanism spearheaded the Romanisation of the Catholic Church in Ireland and us ...

, 19th-century Irish cardinal *

Paul Cullen (rugby league) Paul Cullen (born 4 March 1963) is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He was the Director of Rugby at Widnes Vikings of the Super League after being the club's head coach prior to promotion from the Champio ...

, rugby coach *

Peter Cullen Peter Claver Cullen (born July 28, 1941) is a Canadian voice actor. He is best known as the voice of Optimus Prime in the original 1980s ''Transformers'' animated series, reprising the role many times since 2007. He has also voiced many other ...

, voice actor, Optimus Prime in Transformers * Philippa Cullen, Australian performance artist *

Robert Cullen (footballer) is a former Japanese footballer of Irish descent. Club career Cullen is a forward, Cullen made his senior football debut for Júbilo Iwata on 5 May 2004, Oita Trinita being the opponent. Cullen started training in the youth ranks at Kashiwa ...

, Irish-Japanese football player *

Sarah Cullen Sarah Cullen (6 October 1949 – 22 January 2012) was a British radio and television journalist who worked for ITN, as well as BBC Radio 4's ''Today (BBC Radio 4), Today'' programme. Remembered for her red hair and volatile temperament, Cullen ...

, British television journalist *

Seán Cullen Seán Cullen (born August 29, 1965) is a Canadian actor and stand-up comedian. He is known for combining improvisation with mimicry and music. He is known for providing voices of characters in shows like '' Best Ed'', '' Seven Little Monsters,'' ...

, Canadian comedian *

Thomas H. Cullen Thomas Henry Cullen (March 29, 1868 – March 1, 1944) was an American businessman and politician from New York who served thirteen terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1919 to 1944. Biography Born in Brooklyn, Cullen attended the ...

, United States Representative *

Tim Cullen Timothy Leo Cullen (born February 16, 1942) is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators (1966–67, 1968–71), Chicago White Sox (1968) and Oakland Athletics (1972). He batted and threw right-handed. ...

, American baseball player *

Timothy Cullen (Wisconsin politician) Timothy Cullen (born February 25, 1944) is an American politician and former Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate. He represented the Janesville-based 15th District between 2011 and 2015, and previously from 1975 through 1987. Early life, ...

, American state senator *

Tina Cullen Christina Louise "Tina" Cullen MBE (born 1 March 1970 in Stockport, Cheshire) is a field hockey player from England. Cullen has represented Great Britain in two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996 when the team finished in fourth p ...

, English hockey player *

William Cullen, Baron Cullen of Whitekirk William Douglas Cullen, Baron Cullen of Whitekirk, (born 18 November 1937) is a former senior member of the Scottish judiciary. He formerly served as Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session, and was an additional Lord ...

(born 1935), Lord President of Scotland's Court of Session

Fictional characters

Edward Cullen Edward Cullen ( né Edward Anthony Masen, Jr.) is a character in the ''Twilight'' book series by Stephenie Meyer. He is featured in the novels ''Twilight'', ''New Moon'', ''Eclipse'' and ''Breaking Dawn'', and their corresponding film adapta ...

, character in the

Twilight Twilight is light produced by sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere, when the Sun is below the horizon, which illuminates the lower atmosphere and the Earth's surface. The word twilight can also refer to the periods of time when this i ...

series by

Stephenie Meyer Stephenie Meyer (; née Morgan; born December 24, 1973) is an American novelist and film producer. She is best known for writing the vampire romance series ''Twilight'', which has sold over 100 million copies, with translations into 37 differ ...

Linden Cullen Linden Cullen is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama ''Holby City'', portrayed by actor Duncan Pow. He made his first appearance in the series ten episode "Stolen", broadcast on 15 January 2008. The character was the head of Holby ...

* Cullen Rutherford, character in the fantasy role-playing video game ''

Dragon Age ''Dragon Age'' is a media franchise centered on a series of fantasy role-playing video games created and developed by BioWare, which have seen releases on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The fr ...

'' * Cullen Bohannon, character in the western drama ‘’

Hell on Wheels Hell on Wheels was the itinerant collection of flimsily assembled gambling houses, dance halls, saloons, and brothels that followed the army of Union Pacific railroad workers westward as they constructed the First transcontinental railroad in 186 ...

References

External links

Cullen Surname Origins
by Jim Cullen {{surname, Cullen English-language surnames Anglicised Irish-language surnames Surnames of Irish origin

Notable people

Fictional characters

See also

References

External links