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PLEASE!!!! I really would love to know the meaning behind my boyfriend's name. His first name is Cullen. I know It's an irish name, but I can't find anything on it! This is reeeeeeeeally important. Please help! Thanks. -Pamela
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"The Holly bears the Crown..."
As so the old Christmas carol goes. And "Cullen" comes from the Irish "O Cuillin", meaning "holly tree".
I quote from Ida Grehan's *Pocket Guide to Irish Family Names* (Appletree Press: Belfast, 1985):
"They were once a numerous clan in Wicklow until driven away by the O Byrnes and O Tooles. They moved to County Kildare, and there many have remained, giving their name to the town of Kilcullen.
"They were in Wexford, too, recorded in the late 16th century as being gentry of Cullenstown.
"This comparatively simple name has worked its way through an astonishing number of variations including Cullion, Cullhoun, MacCullen and Cullinane. It could also be connected with a Scottish clan."
-- Nanaea
As so the old Christmas carol goes. And "Cullen" comes from the Irish "O Cuillin", meaning "holly tree".
I quote from Ida Grehan's *Pocket Guide to Irish Family Names* (Appletree Press: Belfast, 1985):
"They were once a numerous clan in Wicklow until driven away by the O Byrnes and O Tooles. They moved to County Kildare, and there many have remained, giving their name to the town of Kilcullen.
"They were in Wexford, too, recorded in the late 16th century as being gentry of Cullenstown.
"This comparatively simple name has worked its way through an astonishing number of variations including Cullion, Cullhoun, MacCullen and Cullinane. It could also be connected with a Scottish clan."
-- Nanaea
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