Cuyler first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Cuyler has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Cuyler

A masculine name likely from a surname derived from Dutch words meaning "boatman's shack".

Popularity of Cuyler by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Cuyler is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Cuyler being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 16 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Cuyler.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 16 0
2022 13 0
2021 19 0
2020 16 0
2019 16 0
2018 14 0
2017 12 0
2016 24 0
2015 15 0
2014 16 0
2013 21 0
2012 16 0
2011 20 0
2010 12 0
2009 33 5
2008 26 0
2007 19 0
2006 24 0
2005 14 0
2004 13 5
2003 24 0
2002 12 0
2001 19 0
2000 20 0
1999 12 0
1998 18 0
1997 16 0
1996 26 0
1995 12 0
1994 13 0
1993 16 0
1992 11 0
1991 18 0
1990 14 0
1989 12 0
1988 11 0
1987 10 0
1986 6 0
1985 13 0
1984 10 0
1983 9 0
1982 10 0
1981 10 0
1980 9 0
1979 6 0
1976 6 0
1975 5 0
1974 6 0

The history of the first name Cuyler

The given name Cuyler has its origins in the Dutch language and is believed to have emerged during the 17th century. It is a variant spelling of the Dutch surname Kuijler, which is derived from the occupation of a cooper or barrel maker. The name is thought to have been inspired by the Dutch word "kuijl," meaning a barrel or tub.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cuyler can be traced back to Hendrick Cuyler, a Dutch settler who arrived in New Netherland (present-day New York) in the mid-17th century. He was among the first to bear this surname, which later evolved into a given name.

In the 18th century, Cuyler gained prominence as the surname of several notable figures in the American colonies. Jacob Cuyler (1720-1788) was a successful merchant and landowner in Albany, New York, while his nephew, Abraham Cuyler (1742-1810), served as the Mayor of Albany from 1786 to 1794.

As the name transitioned into a given name, it gained popularity among Dutch-American communities in the 19th century. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the first name Cuyler was Cuyler Reynolds (1799-1876), a Presbyterian minister and author from New York.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several prominent individuals bore the name Cuyler. Cuyler Brooklyn (1859-1926) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General of New York from 1899 to 1900. Cuyler Overholt (1870-1938) was a successful businessman and co-founder of the Overholt Distillery in Pennsylvania.

Another notable figure was Cuyler Reynolds (1866-1934), a renowned architect who designed several buildings in New York City, including the New York Public Library's main branch. Cuyler Supplee (1888-1962) was an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Supplee-Wills-Jones Milk Company in Pennsylvania.

While the name Cuyler has Dutch roots and was initially more prevalent in Dutch-American communities, it has since spread to other parts of the United States and beyond, with individuals from various backgrounds adopting it.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cuyler was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cuyler, please contact us.

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"Cuyler first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/cuyler-meaning-and-history/.

"Cuyler first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/cuyler-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 9 June, 2025

Cuyler first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/cuyler-meaning-and-history/.

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