Explore the Family Name Cuyler

The meaning of Cuyler

Americanized form of a Dutch surname, most probably Kuiler: possibly an occupational name for a fisherman using kuilnetten, a specific type of fishing net. Alternatively, a habitational name referring to the toponym De Kuil or Ter Kuile (from kuil ‘hole, pit’; compare Verkuilen). History: The Cuyler family were one of five prominent political families in Albany, NY, by the 1730s. Philip and Cornelius Cuyler provisioned militiamen during the French and Indian War.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Cuyler in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the Cuyler surname has seen an upward trend from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 19,208 in occurrence but moved up to 18,633 by 2010, indicating a relative increase of about 3%. The number of individuals with the Cuyler surname also increased during this period from 1,307 to 1,477, a growth rate of approximately 13%. Proportionally per 100k people, the Cuyler name was found to have increased slightly from 0.48 in 2000 to 0.5 in 2010, a rise of just over 4%.

20002010Change
Rank#19,208#18,6332.99%
Count1,3071,47713.01%
Proportion per 100k0.480.54.17%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Cuyler

In terms of ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that the majority of those bearing the Cuyler surname identified as Black, increasing from 57.69% in 2000 to 60.80% in 2010. The percentage of Whites with the Cuyler surname decreased from 38.71% to 34.33% over the same time period. The Hispanic population also saw a slight increase from 1.91% to 2.44%. Those identifying as two or more races rose significantly from 1.15% to 2.03%, a change of 76.52%. No persons with the Cuyler surname were recorded as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.

20002010Change
Black57.69%60.8%5.39%
White38.71%34.33%-11.31%
Hispanic1.91%2.44%27.75%
Two or More Races1.15%2.03%76.52%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%