McCullough

McCullough is an Irish and Scottish surname, with two distinct Gaelic origins:

  • Mac Cú Uladh which means 'son of Cú Uladh' ('Hound of Ulster').{{Cite web |last=Mac Giolla Domhnaigh |first=Padraig |date=1923 |title=Boar - Anglicised Surnames in Ireland |url=https://www.libraryireland.com/AnglicisedSurnames/Boar.php#:~:text=Boar%E2%80%94Some%20of%20the%20name,it%20is%20derived%20from%20Cullach. |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=www.libraryireland.com}}{{Cite web |last=Woulfe |first=Patrick |date=1923 |title=Mac Conuladh - Irish Names and Surnames |url=https://www.libraryireland.com/names/macc/mac-conuladh.php |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=www.libraryireland.com}}
  • Mac Cullaich 'son of Cullach' ('boar'), usually rendered McCulloch

Derivation from the Irish Gaelic Mac Cú Uladh 'son of the hound of Ulster' is more probable.{{Cite web |title=Mccullough Name Meaning & Mccullough Family History at Ancestry.co.uk® |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/name-origin?surname=mccullough |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=www.ancestry.co.uk}} While Cú Uladh may allude to the legendary Irish figure Cú Chulainn, it was a common given name in medieval Ireland. In Ulster it was often in use by the O'Neills of Clandeboye, the MacMahons of Oriel, the MacCanns, and the MacDonlevy kings of Ulaid. The M[a]cCulloch spelling is more common in Scotland (especially Galloway), and is associated with Clan MacCulloch.

List of people with the surname

See also

References