PULLIN
Pullin is a surname of English origin that has been documented in the British Isles since the mid‑twelfth century. Its presence is chiefly associated with the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, and it remains one of the more common names within the United Kingdom and among English‑speaking peoples in Canada and Australia.
The name originates from the Middle English word pullen, meaning “to pluck” or “to pull.” It is traditionally regarded as an occupational surname for someone who plucked feathers from birds or who pulled up plants, and it may also have been used as a nickname for a person described as a plucker or puller. In addition, there is evidence that the surname derives at least in part from the Old French word poulain, meaning colt or young horse, itself derived from the Latin pullamen. This connection suggests that some bearers of the name may have been involved in horse breeding or taming, or were characterised as spirited and vigorous, as is common with animal‑based nicknames such as Catt, Doe and Lamb.
The earliest surviving record of a name that would evolve into Pullin is that of Richard Pulein, dated to 1166 in the Norfolk Pipe Rolls, during the reign of King Henry XI. Subsequent medieval entries include Geoffrey Poleyn (1266, Somerset), Thomas Pullan (1509, Yorkshire) and John Pullen (1607, Yorkshire). In London, christenings such as that of Thomas Pullin at St. Bride’s, Fleet Street, on 16 August 1604, and the marriage of John Pullin to Mary Right at St. James’, Duke’s Place, on 23 November 1665 are recorded in parish registers.
Throughout its history the surname has appeared in a wide array of spellings. These include Pullen, Pullein, Pulleyn, Pullan, Pulling, Pullon and Powelin. Variants such as Poilin, Polin and Spurlin have also been noted in Scottish and Irish records, reflecting regional pronunciation and dialectal influence.
Distributionally, the surname is heavily concentrated within the West Country of England, with the largest concentrations in Devon (41 % of all documented Pullins in the UK), followed by Cornwall (30 %) and Dorset and Somerset (19 %). In recent censuses, the majority of Pullins live in London and its environs, with smaller communities in Scotland and Wales. Internationally, the name has spread to Canada, where it is most common in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and to Australia, where it is widespread in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and other states. The surname appears to be gradually declining in number, a trend attributed to migration, intermarriage with other surname groups and broader social assimilation.
Consequently, the Pullin surname exemplifies a traditional English family name that has evolved through occupational, descriptive and linguistic channels, maintained a strong regional identity, yet faces contemporary demographic change. Its documented lineage, variant forms and geographic spread provide a coherent picture of its historical development within the English‑speaking world.
Typical given names associated with the Pullin surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Angela
- Barbara
- Brenda
- Caroline
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Laura
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Patricia
- Penelope
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Pullin in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 1,829 people named Pullin in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,528th most common surname in Britain. Around 28 in a million people in Britain are named Pullin.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Pullin
- John Pullin - Rugby union player
- Julie Pullin - Tennis player
- Cyril Pullin - Motorcycle pioneer (1892 to 1973)
- Alfred Pullin - Journalist (1860 to 1934)
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.