MCCULLY
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Cully, Mccully
The surname McCully is of Gaelic origin, with a strong presence in both Scotland and Ireland. It is understood to derive from the Gaelic patronymic prefix Mac meaning “son of” combined with the personal nickname cullach. The word cullach translates to “boar” in Gaelic, so the name literally denotes “son of the boar.” This construction follows the traditional Celtic practice of creating surnames based on a notable ancestor’s character or occupation.
Historical records place the first use of McCully in Scotland at the close of the thirteenth century. In 1296 a deed from Wigtonshire records the name as Thomas Maculagh. By 1354 a notable figure, Sir Patrick McCoulagh, appears as a charter witness in Galloway, with his name spelt Macologh in a 1360 document. Subsequent documents show a series of evolving spellings: Makcoulach in 1478, Micullocht in 1556, and later variants such as McColloch and McCully recorded in parish lists of Wigtownshire and Minnigaff in 1684.
In Ireland the surname has also been documented, often in association with the province of Ulster. Here it is recorded under several spellings, including Maccullach and Mccully. Some documentary evidence suggests a link to the Gaelic phrase Mac Con Uladh – “son of the hound of Ulster” – which may have influenced the surname’s adoption in the region.
The name is also associated with the Gaelic term Mac Cuilinn, meaning “son of the holly.” This form of the name is found in various spelling variants such as McCulley, MacCully, MacCullock and McCullagh, reflecting differences in orthographic practices over time and across dialects. All these versions share the same patronymic prefix, indicating a common genealogical origin.
The McCully surname is not widespread but remains identifiable within the British Isles. Modern bearers of the name are most often found in Scotland and Ireland, with a significant diaspora in the United States, Canada and Australia, a pattern consistent with the large emigration movements from the British Isles during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Typical given names associated with the McCully surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Paul
- Richard
- Samuel
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Agnes
- Alison
- Amanda
- Bernadette
- Elizabeth
- Hazel
- Jennifer
- Kathleen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Mccull
- Mcculla
- Macalay
- Macaley
- Macally
- Macaulay
- Macauley
- Macaullay
- Macaulley
- Macaully
- Macauly
- Macawley
- Maccally
- Maccaulay
- Maccauley
- Maccauly
- Macclay
- Maccullie
- Macklay
- Mackley
- Mackly
- Mackouly
- Maclay
- Macleay
- Macley
- Macloy
- Macly
- Macualay
- Macualey
- Macualy
- Maculay
- Maculey
- Magauley
- Magauly
- Magawley
- Magawly
- Maglaya
- Magley
- Mcalay
- Mcaley
- Mcalley
- Mcally
- Mcaulay
- Mcauley
- Mcaulley
- Mcaully
- Mcauly
- Mcawley
- Mccallay
- Mccalley
- Mccally
- Mccaughley
- Mccaulay
- Mccauley
- Mccaulley
- Mccaully
- Mccauly
- Mccawley
- Mcclay
- Mccloy
- Mccolley
- Mccolly
- Mccoull
- Mccowley
- Mccullagh
- Mccullah
- Mcculley
- Mccullick
- Mccullie
- Mccullim
- Mccullin
- Mccullins
- Mccullogh
- Mcculloh
- Mccullugh
- Mcgailey
- Mcgaley
- Mcgauley
- Mcgaulley
- Mcgawley
- Mcgouley
- Mckelley
- Mckelly
- Mclay
- Mcleay
- Mcley
- Mcloy
- Mcully
- Meckley
- Meekley
- Mekley
- Mickley
- Miggley
- Migley
- Mikely
- Mikolay
- Moakley
- Mocley
- Mogley
- Muckley
- Muckly
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McCully in...
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There are approximately 574 people named McCully in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around nine in a million people in Britain are named McCully.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named McCully
- Henry McCully - American soccer player-coach
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.