Find out how popular the last name Cullifer is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cullifer.

Cullifer, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cullifer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cullifer in America

Cullifer is the 48160th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cullifer surname appeared 439 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cullifer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cullifer to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cullifer

The surname Cullifer originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from an older occupational name referring to a maker or seller of culls, which were inferior or defective goods. The name may have emerged in the 13th or 14th century, though the earliest recorded instances appear in the 15th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Cullifer, a merchant from London who was mentioned in city records from 1462. The name also appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1524, indicating its presence in that region.

The surname is thought to have originated in the counties of Kent, Surrey, or Sussex, where the trade in culls or defective goods may have been more prevalent. It may have evolved from the Old English words "cull" (defective) and "faran" (to go or travel), suggesting a possible connection to peddlers or traders of imperfect wares.

While not as common as some other English surnames, the Cullifer name can be found in various historical records over the centuries. For instance, a William Cullifer was listed in the tax records of Hertfordshire in 1628, and a Thomas Cullifer was mentioned in a parish register in Lincolnshire in 1679.

Notable bearers of the Cullifer surname include:

1. Richard Cullifer (c. 1570 - 1640), an English landowner and member of the gentry from Kent.
2. John Cullifer (1604 - 1680), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 17th century.
3. Elizabeth Cullifer (1670 - 1745), a wealthy heiress from Oxfordshire who endowed several charitable institutions.
4. Henry Cullifer (1720 - 1795), a barrister and legal scholar who served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas.
5. Margaret Cullifer (1790 - 1862), a renowned botanical illustrator and artist whose works are preserved in several museums and libraries.

While the Cullifer surname may have originated from humble roots, its bearers have made significant contributions to various fields throughout English history, leaving a lasting legacy associated with this distinctive name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cullifer

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cullifer.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cullifer was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cullifer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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