The McCulloch surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,244 people carried this name — #4,312 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 35,800 people counted. That is up 3% from 8,021 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the McCulloch surname

A surname from Irish or Scottish Gaelic, variant of McCullough.

From the Scottish Gaelic variant of McCullough.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «McCulloch» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Scotland, 1880s

McCulloch was 13 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 769. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Southern half of Scotland.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 591 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

McCulloch was recorded 128 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 186th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 278. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

145 families named McCulloch, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 848 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: McCulloch, McCalla, McCallah, McCallow, McCollah, M'Collah, McCollak, McCollegh, MacCollock, McColloch, McCollogh, McCollough, McColough, McCoulough, McCulla, M'Cullah, McCullegh, Mcculloch, McCullock, McCullogh, McCulloh, McCullouch, McCullough, M'Cullough, McCullow. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 67
South Carolina 22
North Carolina 21
Maryland 12
Virginia 9
New York 7
Massachusetts 5
Maine 1
Vermont 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 252 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

McCulloch in American newspapers,
1877–1914.

Newspaper page from The Daily Missoulian carrying the name McCulloch
The Daily Missoulian 1914-12-06
Newspaper page from The Bossier Banner carrying the name McCulloch
The Bossier Banner 1877-07-26
Newspaper page from The Pacific Commercial Advertiser carrying the name McCulloch
The Pacific Commercial Advertiser 1898-12-29

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 104,323 pages in all carry the name.

In print

McCulloch in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

38,362 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McCulloch. The most, 9,007, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 9,906
Victoria 7,896
South Australia 7,828
Queensland 6,844
Western Australia 3,918
Tasmania 1,701
ACT (Canberra) 193
Northern Territory 21

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McCulloch.

Who carried it

People named McCulloch,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Hugh McCulloch
    Hugh McCulloch 1808–1895 · banker
  • John Ramsay McCulloch
    John Ramsay McCulloch 1789–1864 · statistician
  • Alexander McCulloch
    Alexander McCulloch 1887–1951 · rower
  • Warren Sturgis McCulloch 1898–1969 · neuroscientist
  • Jimmy McCulloch 1953–1979 · guitarist
  • Ernest McCulloch 1926–2011 · university teacher

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0.

In the public record

People named McCulloch,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,381 records

1,381 records of the McCulloch name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 454
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 284
  • Other U.S. records 643
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Gregory P. McCulloch

    Born 1924 in Wisconsin. Enlisted 1943 at Milwaukee; mechanic from Milwaukee County. U.S. Navy veteran of World War II; died 1987, buried at Wood National Cemetery, Wisconsin.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record David McCulloch

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Furnessia from Glasgow, aged 23; machinist. From Glasgow, Scotland; bound for Michigan.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. A U.S. Army record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864
    Example: U.S. burial record, 1864
    Burial record Michael Scott McCulloch

    U.S. Air Force veteran. Born 1933, died 1999; buried at Silver Lake Cemetery, Portage, Wisconsin.

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,381 records for McCulloch in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864, U.S. National Archives (public domain).

Australia2,037 records

2,037 records of the McCulloch name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 940
  • Tasmanian Names Index 436
  • Other Australian records 661
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Peter McCulloch

    Died 1926 in Abbotsham, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1927.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Mabel Annie McCulloch

    Born 1873 in Westbury, Tasmania. Married 1898 in Westbury, Tasmania, aged 26.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary McCulloch

    Arrived in Victoria in 1880 aboard the Don Diego, aged 42; British subject.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,037 records for McCulloch in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada794 records

794 records of the McCulloch name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 662
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 34
  • Other Canadian records 98
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Nero McCulloch

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Providence, bound for Port Roseway, aged 22.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Jennie Alice McCulloch

    Buried in 1968 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 81.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record William Haddow McCulloch

    Died in service in 1918.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 794 records for McCulloch in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

United Kingdom133 records

133 records of the McCulloch name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 83
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 32
  • Other British records 18
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Charles McCulloch

    Born 1898 at New Elgin; labourer. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Janet Ann McCulloch

    Buried in 1932 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 70.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Frances McCulloch

    Will proved in 1939; of Tal-y-Cafn, Denbigh.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 133 records for McCulloch in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand9 records

9 records of the McCulloch name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 7
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alexander John McCulloch

    Died 1951, aged 74; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record R. McCulloch

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Olive Angelina McCulloch

    Died 1941, aged 38; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 9 records for McCulloch in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the McCulloch name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Donald Georges Greig McCulloch

    Born 1943 in Great Britain; died 1997 in the United Kingdom.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the McCulloch name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Marij McCulloch

    In the population register of Utrecht; born 1878 in Brisbane (Eng.).

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to McCulloch.

When the index is not enough

This page says where McCulloch is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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