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

Cultra, 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 Cultra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cultra in America

Cultra is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cultra surname appeared 101 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 Cultra.

The history of the last name Cultra

The surname Cultra has its origins in Northern Ireland, specifically in County Down. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th century, initially as a locational name derived from the townland of Cultra, a small coastal village located a few miles east of Belfast.

The name Cultra itself is thought to have derived from the Irish Gaelic words "cul" meaning "back" or "rear" and "trath" meaning "strand" or "beach." This suggests that the name likely referred to the location of the settlement, perhaps being situated at the back of a beach or coastal area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cultra can be found in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663, which were tax records compiled during the reign of King Charles II. These rolls list several individuals with the surname Cultra residing in the Holywood area of County Down.

In the 18th century, the Cultra name appears in various land records and parish registers throughout County Down. Notable individuals from this era include John Cultra (1720-1789), a landowner and farmer from the Newtownards area, and Margaret Cultra (1745-1817), whose marriage to William McCormick is recorded in the parish records of Holywood in 1769.

The 19th century saw the Cultra name spread beyond County Down, with individuals bearing the surname appearing in census records and other documents across various parts of Ireland and the United Kingdom. One prominent figure was William Cultra (1818-1892), a successful merchant and businessman from Belfast who served as a local magistrate and was involved in various charitable endeavors.

Another notable individual was Robert Cultra (1856-1924), an Irish-born engineer and inventor who emigrated to the United States in the late 19th century. He was responsible for several pioneering innovations in the field of electricity and held numerous patents for his inventions.

In the early 20th century, the Cultra name gained further recognition through the work of Sir Stanley Cultra (1890-1976), a renowned architect and urban planner. He was instrumental in the design and development of several notable buildings and public spaces in London and other parts of the United Kingdom.

While the surname Cultra remains relatively uncommon globally, it has maintained a strong presence in its ancestral homeland of Northern Ireland, particularly in the areas around Belfast and County Down. The name continues to be a reminder of the rich historical and cultural heritage of this region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cultra

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

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 Cultra 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.

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

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

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