The McCullough surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 45,852 people carried this name — #755 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 6,440 people counted. That is up 4% from 44,123 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the McCullough surname

A surname from Irish; variant forms McCalla, McColley, McCollough, McCullagh, McCullah, McCulloch, McCulloh, McCully.

Anglicized form of Irish Mac Cú Uladh.

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

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 130 births for the McCullough name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 5,800 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The count includes the spelling McCullagh.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 106
Leinster 16
Connacht 6
Munster 2

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

21 people named McCullough is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 21

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, McCullough was counted together with McCulloch: 145 families in all.

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

McCullough in American newspapers,
1902.

Newspaper page from Burlington Weekly Free Press carrying the name McCullough
Burlington Weekly Free Press 1902-06-12
Newspaper page from Barre Evening Telegram carrying the name McCullough
Barre Evening Telegram 1902-09-03
Newspaper page from Burlington Weekly Free Press carrying the name McCullough
Burlington Weekly Free Press 1902-06-05

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

McCullough in Australian newspapers,
1850s–2000s.

9,127 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McCullough. The most, 2,573, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 2.1 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 4,028
New South Wales 1,937
Victoria 1,825
Western Australia 635
South Australia 376
Tasmania 150
ACT (Canberra) 124
Northern Territory 8

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

Who carried it

People named McCullough,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Colleen McCullough
    Colleen McCullough 1937–2015 · science fiction writer
  • Philo McCullough
    Philo McCullough 1893–1981 · film actor
  • David G. McCullough 1933–2022 · journalist
  • Henry McCullough 1943–2016 · rock musician

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

In the public record

People named McCullough,
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 States4,478 records

4,478 records of the McCullough name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,597
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,120
  • Other U.S. records 1,761
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Michael Eugene McCullough

    Born 1947; from Concord, California. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1966 in South Vietnam. Buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Miles D. McCullough

    Born 1910 in Tennessee. Enlisted 1942 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; metal worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the Anchoria from Glasgow, aged 20; servant. From Tyrone, Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 4,478 records for McCullough in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia431 records

431 records of the McCullough name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 139
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 127
  • Other Australian records 165
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record James McCullough

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Orator, sailing from Dublin in 1843. Native of Belfast, Antrim.

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

    Arrived in Victoria in 1857 aboard the Algiers, aged 21; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Eileen McCullough

    Gentlewoman of Brighton Bch, Victoria; died 1985.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 431 records for McCullough in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada263 records

263 records of the McCullough name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 133
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 37
  • Other Canadian records 93
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary McCullough

    Came to Ontario in 1880 aboard the Polynesian, landing at Halifax, bound for Brampton, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Laura Anna McCullough

    Buried in 1991 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 91.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Katherine Jane McCullough

    Died 1963 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 263 records for McCullough 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. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · 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. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand52 records

52 records of the McCullough name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 39
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 7
  • Other New Zealand records 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret McCullough

    Died 1947, aged 67; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frank E. McCullough

    Buried in 1954 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 56.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record F. McCullough

    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)

Showing 3 of 52 records for McCullough in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). 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).

United Kingdom13 records

13 records of the McCullough name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. McCullough

    Cheshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record C. McCullough

    Lance Corporal, Leicestershire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 2 of 13 records for McCullough in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). 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).

France1 record

1 record of the McCullough 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 Patricia Jean McCullough

    Born 1934 in the United States; died 1995 in Paris.

    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 McCullough name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register William Earl Mc Cullough

    In the population register of Arnhem; born in Uta (N.Amerika).

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Alkmaar (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 McCullough.

When the index is not enough

This page says where McCullough 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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