Map of Ireland showing where the Mccullen arms are recorded
The Mccullen arms were recorded in Donegal, c. 1645.
Donegal was remote north-western Irish country of mountain and coast. Its land was poor and its families few, but those who held ground held it for a very long time.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Mccullen arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Donegal.
Origin & History of the Mccullen Family in Ireland
The family name McCullen is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of County Donegal, where ancestors were documented as early as 1645. The name is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Uileagóid, which traces its origins to a diminutive form of the name William. During the seventeenth century, families in this region often lived in tight-knit groups that relied on farming and local trade to survive the political instability of the era. As the English language became more common in Ireland, the original Gaelic spelling was adapted to sound more familiar to English speakers, eventually settling into the modern form we recognize today. These early members of the McCullen family were part of a resilient population that maintained strong ties to their local community despite the significant social changes occurring across Ireland at that time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Cú Uladh
Son of the hound of Ulster
This name
MccullenRefers to a descendant of a warrior associated with the province of Ulster.
also spelled
McCullen
Maccullan
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Woulfe, Patrick. Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames. 1923
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of County Donegal. 1654
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ravenConstancy and divine providence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ravenConstancy and divine providence
