Surname Culwen - Meaning and Origin

Culwen: What does the surname Culwen mean?

Culwen is a surname of Old Welsh origin. It is considered a derivation of the Welsh name 'Culhwch', derived from "cul" which signifies "narrow” and "hwch" which means "pig". "Culhwch" is famous in Welsh folklore as a hero-character in the oldest Welsh literature, "Culhwch and Olwen". As for the surname "Culwen", it was most likely coined in the medieval era and, like many last names of that time, may have described an ancestor's trade, their location, or a distinctive characteristic. However, specific meanings of the surname Culwen have faded over time, and it remains primarily as a marker of cultural and ancestral heritage. It's important to note that the meaning of surnames can vary greatly depending on their geographical origin and cultural context.

Culwen: Where does the name Culwen come from?

The surname Culwen appears to be of British origin, likely from England or Scotland. However, its exact origins and early history are relatively ambiguous, not well-documented, and involve several possible theories.

One theory suggests that it may be related to the surname "Colwyn," which originates from a place in North Wales. Another theory ties it to the surname "Culwin," which is of Scottish Origin. Yet another notion identifies it with the Anglo-Saxon surname “Calvin,” a derivation from the personal name “Chilvein.”

While it maintains a low level of prevalence overall, it's found particularly in English-speaking countries. Yet, the surname Culwen does not stand out as a particularly common surname in any specific region in the world today according to various public databases.

In the fictional world, however, Culwen is notably used in H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos stories as the name of a family based in Arkham, Massachusetts, suggesting a possible link to New England in that context.

Variations of the surname Culwen

The surname Culwen seems to originate from British or Irish roots but there is not much information available on this specific spelling of the surname. However, it may be a variant of the English or Scottish surname Colvin or Culver, the Welsh surname Colwyn, or the Irish surname Callan or Cullen.

Possible variant spellings or similar names could include Culwin, Cullwen, Culwer, Cullwyn, or possibly even Kilwen. Sometimes, similar sounding surnames can get recorded differently over time due to sound changes or errors in transcription.

The surname Cullen is quite common in Ireland, and similarly sounding surnames such as Collins and Callan might be of the same origin group. Alternate spellings of Cullen include Cullin, Cullins, Cullion, and Cullinan.

For the surname Colvin, alternate spellings can include Colvine, Colvinn, Colvyne, and Colvyn. For Culver, other possible forms of the surname can include Culvere, Culvert, and Culverhouse.

As surnames can change significantly over time and geography, it's possible there are many more variations of the surname Culwen. It's also possible the surname underwent significant spelling changes after immigration.

Famous people with the name Culwen

• Anna Culwen: British theatre actress
• Charles Culwen: English cricketer
• Colin Culwen: Canadian artist
• Daniel Culwen: South African actor
• Edwin Culwen: English legal scholar and writer
• George Culwen: English public speaker
• Joseph Culwen: British author
• Mark Culwen: American painter
• Peter Culwen: American journalist
• William Culwen: British minister

Other surnames

Culwell