how does McCullough name become McCulla

Question

Matthew Mcculla could have originally been Matthew McCullough sometime after 1851

Answer 1

I don't know how it became McCulla, but there is a history to the name and some of its changes over time.

McCullough

This very interesting surname, now widespread in Ulster, is ultimately believed to be of Scottish origin, and an Anglicized form of the Old Scots Gaelic "MacCullaich" or "MacC(h)ullach", son of Cullach, from "Mac", son of, and the personal byname "Cullach", Boar. This wild animal takes a great deal of its significance from Norse mythology, and to it were attributed qualities of Courage and Fertility. Over the centuries, the boar has become associated with Bravery and Perseverance (in fighting), and consequently, "Cullach" would have been bestowed on an illustrious warrior or brave fighter. Early recordings of the surname from Scotland include: Michel Maculagh, who rendered homage to the King of England in 1296; Sir Patrick McCoulagh, charter witness in Galloway (1354); Helise Makcoulach, who married in 1478; and Patrick Makcowloch or Mackullouch, vicar of Arbroath, in 1482. In Petty's 1659 "census" of all Ireland, McCullough, M(a)cCullagh and M(a)cCullough are listed as among the principal surnames in the baronies of Antrim, Belfast, Carrickfergus and Toome in County Antrim, and Lower Iveagh in County Down. Here the name is Gaelicized "Mac Cu Uladh", son of the Hound of Ulster, and the Annals of Loch Ce tell us that in 1532, one Seamus Mac Con Uladh or MacCullagh was killed at Dunbo (County Derry). It is likely that "Mac Cullach" was altered by folk etymology to "Mac Cu Uladh" in Ulster, but it is interesting to note that in County Sligo Boars is still used as a synonym of McCullough. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Maculagh, which was dated 1296, in "Early Medieval Records of Wyggetone", (Wigtown), during the reign of John Balliol, Ruler of Scotland, 1292 - 1296. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

 

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/McCullough#ixzz3bts7DXt4

Comments

MacCullough of Ulster

"The Book of Ulster Surnames" by Robert Bell  --  "MacCullough (also Cully, MacCullagh and MacCully)  Taken together the origins of these native Ulster and Scottish Planter names are a little complicated.  MacCullough and MacCullagh together constitute one of the fifty most common names in Ulster and 80 per cent of those names in Ireland are of that provence.  The names are most numerous in counties Antrim, Tyronne, and Down.

The Ulster Galic names Mac Cu' Uladh or Mac Con Uladh, both meaning 'son of the hound of Ulster', were anglicised as MacCullagh.  (The name also gave rise to Coloe, Coloo, MacAnaul, MacAnulla, MacNaul and MacNully, but see also MacNally.)  In Petty's 'census' of 1659  MacCullough was listed as one of the 'principal Irish names'  in the Co. Antrim baronies of Antrim, Belfast, Carrickfergus and Toome and also in the barony of Lower Iveagh in Down.  However, many of these must have been Scottish.  By the mid-nineteenth century the name in Co. Antrim was concentrated in the east of the barony of Lower Antrim.

Many of the Ulster MacCulloughs stem originally from Scotland,  where the name is spelt MacCulloch.  These MacCulloughs can be of two origins.  MacCulloch is and was common in the province of Galloway, whence stemmed so many of the Ulster settlers.  Its origins, however, are totally obscure, and although it has been suggested that it derives from the Scots Gaelic Mac Cullaich, meaning 'son of the boar', it is possible that it too derives from MacCon Uladh and represents previous Irish settlers in Galloway.

Either way, it is known that it makes its first appearance in the Scottish records in 1296, when Thomas Maculagh del conte de Wiggetone (now Wigtown) rendered homage to Edward I.  His family later held castles at Gatehouse of Fleet  in Kirkcudbrightshir, and Creetown and Port William in Wigtownshire.  It was in Galloway that the softened form MacCully arose, though it is also found in Tyrone as a variant of the Ulster name MacCullagh.  (Cully as a native Ulster name can be derived from MacCullagh, especially in Tyronne, or from O'Cully, Gaelic O'Colla, a name from counties Armagh and Antrim.)  Also in Wigtownshire, many of the Kellys and MacKellys changed their name to Maculloch (see Kelly).

Yet another connection of MacCulloughs, those of Oban in Argyllshire, belonged to Clan Dougall and were originally called MacLulich.  This name, in Gaelic MacLulaich, meant 'son of Lulach' (an obsolet personnal name derived from the Old Gaelic lu and laogh, meaning 'little calf').  the progenitor of this family was MacCulloch Lulach, the son of Gillacomagan, Mormaer of Moray.  MacCulloch Lulach became King of Scots when (notwithstanding Shakespeare's account) he succeeded MacBeth.  Within a matter of months, however, he too was killed and was succeeded by Malcolm Canmore, c. 1157.

James MacCulloch of Wigtownshire was one of the fifty Scottish undertakers of the Ulster Plantation and in 1610 he was granted 1000 acres in Glenties in Donegal.  Though he lost his grant four years later, he and his tenants remained.

In Ulster about one-third use the -agh ending and most of the remainder the -ough, although MacCullow and MacCulloch are also found.  The -ough spelling is very much more common in counties Antrim and Down, but it must be remembered that the spellings do not necessarily denoted the origins of any particular family.

The Co. Donegal name MacColla (see Coll) has no connection with MacCullough or MacCullagh.

James Macullagh 1809-47, a brilliant mathematician and physicist, was born in Upper Badoney, Co. Tyrone.  His suicide  at the young age of 38 was thought to have been caused by a fit of madness brought on by overwork.  John Edward MacCullagh, 1837-85, who became a famous actor in the USA, was born in Coleraine, Co. Derry."

"The Surnames of Scotland"  by George Black  --  "MacCulloch. - Much obscurity enshrouds the origin of this old Galwegian name, and no satisfactory pedigree of the family exists.  They are said to be described in one of their charters as having their origin "ultra memoriam hominum."  The name may be G. MacCullaich or MacC(h)ullach, "son of the boar.'  The name first appears in 1296 when Thomas Maculagh del counte de Wyggetone rendered homage.  His seal bears a squirrel and S'Thome Macculi (?).  He appears again in the same year as a juror on inquest at Berwick along with his brother Michal and is probably the Thomas Makhulagh, sheriff of Wigtown, 1305.  Michel Maculagh and William Maculaghe also rendered homage.  Sir Patrick McCoulagh and Gilbert McCoulaghe were charter witnesses in Galloway, 1354.  Sir Patrick Macologhe had an annuity of 100 marks "in recompense of his sufferings, and loss of his lands in Scotland for his allegiance" to the king of England 1360 and in 1363 as Sir Patrick M'Owlache had restoration of his lands.

(Black goes on to describe some other MacCulloughs/MacCullochs.  Here are some of the spellings of the name he brings up)  Patrick Makcowloch (1480), Patrick Mackullouch (1482), Symon McKowloch (1500), David M'Ulloch (1643), MacLulich, Makawllauch (1414), McCoulach (1410), M'Coulaghe (1352), M'Cowlach (1476), Makcowllach (1482), M'Cullauch (1439), Maccullo (1546), M'Cullogh (1685), M'Kowloche (1495), McColloch, McCullie, McCullo, McCulloh, McCully, McKeulloch, McKulloch, M'Alach, Mackculloch, Makculloch, M'Hulagh, M'Kulagh, and Malrcowlach (1444)

Answer 2

https://archive.org/stream/instrumentapublica00thomuoft#page/n243/mode/2up

Ragman Rolls signing. 1291-1296. Signers from Wygeton, Scotland.

Sir William Mac Ulagh Counte de Wygeton

Sir Thomas Mac Ulagh Counte de Wygeton

Sir Michel Mac Ulagh Counte de Wygeton  all probable sons of

Sir Godfreit M'Ulagh of Ulaid, Ulster, Ireland.

These three are of the earliest branch's of four in Scotland second generation from Ireland. Predecessor's of the McCulloch families of Scotland. During the Religious persecutions of the early 1600's started by King Henry VIII, several McCulloch's fled to Ireland and changed their name to McCullough to avoid persecution.  This occurred just after Sir William Godfrey McCulloch was executed at Edinburg Castle, also the last person executed by the Iron Maiden. 

These are the first names of the Surname McCulloch and all its variations documented in Scotland. Information on the early family is sparse and difficult to find. Any information in addition to this is greatly appreciated. I have documented over 12000 ancestors to date. 

I have been researching my family history for 30 years.

Comments

All Mc Scottish names originally came from Ireland particularly Northern Ireland.  This is because many Northern Irish clans spread our the the lands where the Picks had been almost wiped out by Vikings and others. The word Scott meant Irish in the language spoken by the Brittians. Therefore Scotland or Irishland became the name given to the north of the island where the Irish clans had branched off and settled. We always consider the Scottish our cousins. Members of the families moved back and fort from Scotland to Northern Ireland for centuries.  

Saying an Irish McCullough came from Scotland is like saying that a Leinster O'Toole came from Connaught. With the rational that There are O'Toole’s that fled to Connaught and survived for the last couple of hundred years. The O'Toole originated in Leinster. This is not to say that the Scottish Clans that branched off don’t have their own culture and their own flait. Zit is just to say we are interrelated. All you need to prove this is an examination of how similar our languages are, or just do a DNA sampling. 

Saying an Irish McCullough came from Scotland is like saying that a Wickloe O'Toole came from West Clare. Withh the rasional that There are O'Tooles in West Clare for the last few hundred years. The O'Toole name oricinated in Wickloe.

---

Hi Elly-May,

I’m a McCullough and would really like to know how you found this information, I’m fascinated.

---

This will help

MacCullough of Ulster

The first recorded name of Mac Con Ulad is of Thomas b. 1260 who owned large tracks of land in Ireland. Thomas is better known as Sir Thomas Mac Con Uladh (MacCulloch) Del Counte de Wyggton of MacCulloch Castle now in ruins. Their linage is presumed to date back to Roman times 200 ce.

"The Book of Ulster Surnames" by Robert Bell  --  "MacCullough (also Cully, MacCullagh and MacCully)  Taken together the origins of these native Ulster and Scottish Planter names are a little complicated.  MacCullough and MacCullagh together constitute one of the fifty most common names in Ulster and 80 per cent of those names in Ireland are of that provence.  The names are most numerous in counties Antrim, Tyronne, and Down.

The Ulster Galic names Mac Cu' Uladh or Mac Con Uladh, both meaning 'son of the hound of Ulster', were anglicised as MacCullagh.  (The name also gave rise to Coloe, Coloo, MacAnaul, MacAnulla, MacNaul and MacNully, but see also MacNally.)  In Petty's 'census' of 1659  MacCullough was listed as one of the 'principal Irish names'  in the Co. Antrim baronies of Antrim, Belfast, Carrickfergus and Toome and also in the barony of Lower Iveagh in Down.  However, many of these must have been Scottish.  By the mid-nineteenth century the name in Co. Antrim was concentrated in the east of the barony of Lower Antrim.

Many of the Ulster MacCulloughs stem originally from Scotland,  where the name is spelt MacCulloch.  These MacCulloughs can be of two origins.  MacCulloch is and was common in the province of Galloway, whence stemmed so many of the Ulster settlers.  Its origins, however, are totally obscure, and although it has been suggested that it derives from the Scots Gaelic Mac Cullaich, meaning 'son of the boar', it is possible that it too derives from MacCon Uladh and represents previous Irish settlers in Galloway.

Either way, it is known that it makes its first appearance in the Scottish records in 1296, when Thomas Maculagh del conte de Wiggetone (now Wigtown) rendered homage to Edward I.  His family later held castles at Gatehouse of Fleet  in Kirkcudbrightshir, and Creetown and Port William in Wigtownshire.  It was in Galloway that the softened form MacCully arose, though it is also found in Tyrone as a variant of the Ulster name MacCullagh.  (Cully as a native Ulster name can be derived from MacCullagh, especially in Tyronne, or from O'Cully, Gaelic O'Colla, a name from counties Armagh and Antrim.)  Also in Wigtownshire, many of the Kellys and MacKellys changed their name to Maculloch (see Kelly).

Yet another connection of MacCulloughs, those of Oban in Argyllshire, belonged to Clan Dougall and were originally called MacLulich.  This name, in Gaelic MacLulaich, meant 'son of Lulach' (an obsolet personnal name derived from the Old Gaelic lu and laogh, meaning 'little calf').  the progenitor of this family was MacCulloch Lulach, the son of Gillacomagan, Mormaer of Moray.  MacCulloch Lulach became King of Scots when (notwithstanding Shakespeare's account) he succeeded MacBeth.  Within a matter of months, however, he too was killed and was succeeded by Malcolm Canmore, c. 1157.

James MacCulloch of Wigtownshire was one of the fifty Scottish undertakers of the Ulster Plantation and in 1610 he was granted 1000 acres in Glenties in Donegal.  Though he lost his grant four years later, he and his tenants remained.

In Ulster about one-third use the -agh ending and most of the remainder the -ough, although MacCullow and MacCulloch are also found.  The -ough spelling is very much more common in counties Antrim and Down, but it must be remembered that the spellings do not necessarily denoted the origins of any particular family.

The Co. Donegal name MacColla (see Coll) has no connection with MacCullough or MacCullagh.

James Macullagh 1809-47, a brilliant mathematician and physicist, was born in Upper Badoney, Co. Tyrone.  His suicide  at the young age of 38 was thought to have been caused by a fit of madness brought on by overwork.  John Edward MacCullagh, 1837-85, who became a famous actor in the USA, was born in Coleraine, Co. Derry."

"The Surnames of Scotland"  by George Black  --  "MacCulloch. - Much obscurity enshrouds the origin of this old Galwegian name, and no satisfactory pedigree of the family exists.  They are said to be described in one of their charters as having their origin "ultra memoriam hominum."  The name may be G. MacCullaich or MacC(h)ullach, "son of the boar.'  The name first appears in 1296 when Thomas Maculagh del counte de Wyggetone rendered homage.  His seal bears a squirrel and S'Thome Macculi (?).  He appears again in the same year as a juror on inquest at Berwick along with his brother Michal and is probably the Thomas Makhulagh, sheriff of Wigtown, 1305.  Michel Maculagh and William Maculaghe also rendered homage.  Sir Patrick McCoulagh and Gilbert McCoulaghe were charter witnesses in Galloway, 1354.  Sir Patrick Macologhe had an annuity of 100 marks "in recompense of his sufferings, and loss of his lands in Scotland for his allegiance" to the king of England 1360 and in 1363 as Sir Patrick M'Owlache had restoration of his lands.

(Black goes on to describe some other MacCulloughs/MacCullochs.  Here are some of the spellings of the name he brings up)  Patrick Makcowloch (1480), Patrick Mackullouch (1482), Symon McKowloch (1500), David M'Ulloch (1643), MacLulich, Makawllauch (1414), McCoulach (1410), M'Coulaghe (1352), M'Cowlach (1476), Makcowllach (1482), M'Cullauch (1439), Maccullo (1546), M'Cullogh (1685), M'Kowloche (1495), McColloch, McCullie, McCullo, McCulloh, McCully, McKeulloch, McKulloch, M'Alach, Mackculloch, Makculloch, M'Hulagh, M'Kulagh, and Malrcowlach (1444).