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

Culp, 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 Culp surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Culp in America

Culp is the 2756th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Culp surname appeared 13,081 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Culp.

We can also compare 2010 data for Culp 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 Culp

The surname CULP originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the late 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "culp," meaning a piece or lump, and was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone of a particular build or stature.

One of the earliest documented references to the CULP surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1195, where a person named Robert Culp is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Reginald Culp as a landowner.

During the medieval period, the CULP surname was primarily concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. The variant spellings "Culpe" and "Culpes" were also commonly used in early records.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the CULP surname was John Culp (c. 1520 - 1589), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol. He was involved in the city's governance and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1577.

Another historical person of note was Sir Thomas Culp (1588 - 1662), a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the English Civil War. He supported the Parliamentarian cause and was knighted by Oliver Cromwell in 1657.

In the 18th century, the CULP surname gained recognition through the work of Samuel Culp (1735 - 1805), a prominent English landscape painter known for his picturesque views of the English countryside.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most notable individuals with the CULP surname was William Culp (1819 - 1892), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House and the National Portrait Gallery.

Another influential figure was Elizabeth Culp (1867 - 1943), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first all-girls schools in London and was actively involved in the suffragette movement.

Throughout its history, the CULP surname has maintained a strong presence in England, particularly in the counties where it originated. While the name has spread to other parts of the world through migration, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period and the descriptive nickname used by the English people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Culp

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

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 Culp 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 Culp 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 Culp was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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