Parent’s name

McCullough surname meaning

An Irish (especially Ulster) patronymic from Gaelic Mac Cú Uladh, “son of Cú Uladh” (“hound of Ulster”); a “wild boar” folk etymology is less likely.

Confidence: High
US frequency: Rank 769 · 43,929 people
Common variants: McCullough, McCullagh, MacCullough, McCulloch

The short story

McCullough is an Irish patronymic, especially common in Ulster, from Gaelic Mac Cú Uladh, “son of Cú Uladh”—a personal name meaning “hound of Ulster.” McCullagh and MacCullough are spelling variants; Scottish McCulloch is closely related in anglicized form and often treated alongside the Irish name in diaspora records. Some families once linked the name to Gaelic cullach, “wild boar,” and even translated it as Boar in County Sligo, but DAFN treats Mac Cú Uladh as the likelier explanation. Parent’s name is high confidence for the catalog.

Also seen as: McCullough, McCullagh, MacCullough, McCulloch

Sources used

Ancestry / DAFN surname meaning for McCullough (Mac Cú Uladh)
Geneanet DAFN entry for McCullough (Ulster patronymic; boar folk etymology rejected)
Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic_Top1000.xlsx (2020 Census)