Explore the Family Name Cullivan
The meaning of Cullivan
Irish (Cavan): of uncertain origin. Woulfe traces it to Mac Conluain, earlier Mac Aluain, neither of which would account for the v; it could perhaps be a variant of Ó Cuileamhain, a Leinster name, usually Americanized as Culloon.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Cullivan in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Cullivan saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, it was ranked 52,077 and by 2010, it had fallen to 56,195, marking a change of -7.91%. The number of people with the Cullivan surname also declined slightly over this decade from 375 to 364, a change of -2.93%. Consequently, its proportion per 100,000 people decreased by 14.29%, from 0.14 in 2000 to 0.12 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #52,077 | #56,195 | -7.91% |
| Count | 375 | 364 | -2.93% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.12 | -14.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Cullivan
In terms of ethnicity, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority of individuals bearing the Cullivan surname identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, with percentages of 76.27% and 74.73% respectively. This reflects a minor decline of -2.02%. The next largest ethnic group was Black, with 16.80% in 2000 decreasing slightly to 16.21% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying with two or more races dropped significantly by -44.67%, from 3.47% in 2000 to 1.92% in 2010. Interestingly, there was an increase in the Hispanic portion from 0% to 5.49% over the same period. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander in either year, and the percentage of those who identified as American Indian and Alaskan Native fell from 1.87% in 2000 to 0% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.27% | 74.73% | -2.02% |
| Black | 16.8% | 16.21% | -3.51% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 5.49% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 3.47% | 1.92% | -44.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.87% | 0% | 0% |