Surname Bullen - Meaning and Origin
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Bullen: What does the surname Bullen mean?
The last name Bullen is an English surname that is believed to have originated from the Middle English word “boul”, which means “body”, “person”, or “animal”. It is also believed to have an Anglo-Saxon origin, drawn from the old English words “bolla” or “bylle”, meaning bull. There are numerous documented variations of the spelling of the name, including Bull, Bulen, Bullin, Bullan, and Bullon.
The Bullen surname was initially created to describe somebody who looked strong and powerful, like a bull. It was also initially used as a descriptive nickname and was taken on as a surname by the families who bore it.
There are numerous families who bear the Bullen surname, and people with this last name can be found scattered all around the world. Evidence of some of the oldest Bullen families can be found in England, particularly in Devon. For centuries, the Bullen family were large landowners in Devon, and some of their descendants can still be found in the county today.
Today, Bullen is a surname shared by many different families. It has been passed down through many different generations, and is a reminder of a time and place in which people proudly embraced the power and strength of the bull.
Order DNA origin analysisBullen: Where does the name Bullen come from?
The surname Bullen is commonly found in United Kingdom and other parts of the British Isles today. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English pre 7th century “Bulla”, which is a bull, or was possibly a personal name of endearment. Bullen is found mainly in the counties of Somerset and South Gloucestershire in England, where it is thought to have originated. Many people bearing the surname also settled in the Scottish city of Glasgow, and the Isle of Man.
According to the 1881 UK Census, the Bullen surname was recorded in the highest concentrations in the counties of Northamptonshire (comprising an area of East Midlands in England), Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire. Bullen is also found in small numbers in most of the other British counties. It is thought that the hereditary surname was derived from approximately 40 different locations throughout the UK and Ireland, although the geographical distribution of the Bullen surname today suggests an origin in the predominantly agricultural counties of Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Presently, the Bullen surname is found mainly in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and the United States of America. In these countries, people with the surname Bullen can trace their heritage back to those who migrated out of Britain in the 17th century. They can trace their roots to the rural areas of the English midlands, where it would have been used by people who were primarily farmers.
Variations of the surname Bullen
Bullen is a variant of the surname Bull, a toponymic surname derived from the Middle English "bull" which can refer to places associated with a bull (such as a pub sign) or to a topographic feature resembling a bull's head. It is an English surname common to medieval England and traces of it can be found in records dating back to 1273.
The variants of Bullen surname are Bull and Bullen. Spellings of the surname may include Bolyn, Bolin, Bolling, Bowling and Bollen.
Common surnames of similar origin may include Bullock, Bullard, Bulloch, and Bullimore. The surnames Buller and Bullers are derived from the Old French word "boullier", meaning "dweller or guard of a bull". Pullen, Pulman, Bullman, and Bullinger are all related to Bullen, with the former deriving from "pal," meaning "pool", and the latter deriving from the German "büllen", meaning "to bellow".
The Irish name Bullaun is also related to the name Bullen, with its Gaelic roots deriving from the word "pollain," meaning 'puddle.' The surname Buller is also originally a Cornish surname and is a variant of Bullen.
The surname has spread across much of the English-speaking world and beyond. Variations of Bullen can be found in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, parts of Europe, and the Caribbean.
Famous people with the name Bullen
- Tracy Bullen: Australian Rugby League referee.
- Victoria Bullen: British journalist, photographer and filmmaker.
- Harry Bullen: English footballer.
- Frank Bullen: British sailor, author and journalist.
- Gary Bullen: Australian video game designer, developer and writer.
- John Bullen: American contemporary classical composer and pianist.
- Edward Bullen: Canadian telecommunication engineering researcher and educator.
- James Bullen: British architect and surveyor.
- Maureen Bullen: British Paralympic athlete.
- Ken Bullen: New Zealand historian, author and former diplomat.
- Alan Bullen: English professor of hospitality management.
- Grant Bullen: Canadian engineer and businessman.
- Bruce Bullen: English former professional footballer.
- Scott Bullen: British singer-songwriter.
- Robert Bullen: British engineer and author.
- Dennis Bullen: Australian Rugby League player.
- Amy Bullen: English dancer, professional skater and presenter.
- Joel Bullen: American professional chef.
- Steven Bullen: British musician and television presenter.
- Chris Bullen: New Zealand medical researcher.