Culkin
An Irish surname derived from the Irish word "culcin" meaning a reddish-haired person.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 823 Americans carry the last name Culkin. That puts it at #32,203 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 416,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Culkin surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
823
1 in 416,469
Census rank
#32,203
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
716
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 716 bearers of the surname Culkin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 32203rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Culkin, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.5%. The next largest groups are Black (1.3%) and Hispanic (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Culkin
The surname Culkin is of Irish origin, originating in County Sligo in the northwest of Ireland. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic words "culach" meaning "reed" and "dúin" meaning "fort" or "enclosure," suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a reed-covered fort or enclosure.
The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 16th century, with mentions of individuals named Culkin in various historical records from that era. One notable example is a reference to a John Culkin in the 1659 Census of Ireland, which documented landowners and their properties.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name appeared in several Irish parish records and land deeds, particularly in the counties of Sligo, Mayo, and Galway. This suggests that the Culkin family had a significant presence in this region during that time period.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Culkin was Patrick Culkin, who was born in County Sligo in 1680. He was a farmer and landowner, and records indicate that he had several children who carried on the Culkin name.
Another notable figure was Bridget Culkin, born in 1745 in County Mayo. She was a seamstress and is mentioned in local records for her involvement in the local community and church activities.
In the 19th century, the name Culkin began to spread beyond Ireland as many Irish families immigrated to other parts of the world. For instance, Michael Culkin, born in 1825 in County Sligo, emigrated to the United States in the 1850s and settled in New York City, where he worked as a laborer.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Culkin is the American actor Macaulay Culkin, born in 1980. He rose to fame as a child star in the popular "Home Alone" movies and has had a successful acting career spanning several decades.
Other notable individuals with the Culkin surname include James Culkin (1893-1976), an Irish-born American prelate who served as the Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown, and Brian Culkin (born 1968), an American writer and producer known for his work on television shows such as "Scrubs" and "Cougar Town."
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Culkin
Among Census respondents with the surname Culkin, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.5%. The next largest groups are Black (1.3%) and Hispanic (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Culkin bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Culkin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.5%
- Black or African American1.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Culkin surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,203 | #32,203 | 0.0% |
| Count | 716 | 716 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Culkin bearers went from 716 to 716 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #32,203 to #32,203.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Culkin
FAQ
Culkin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Culkin?
The surname Culkin holds position #32,203 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 823 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Culkin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Culkin, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.5%. The next largest groups are Black (1.3%) and Hispanic (1.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.