Culp
A surname most likely from a German word for “calf,” adopted as an Americanized spelling of immigrant names like Kalb.
The #2,756 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 23,603 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is commonly explained as a Germanic name linked to German Kalb, meaning “calf,” with Culp arising as an Americanized spelling or phonetic adaptation. The old source excerpt specifically equates Culp with Kalb, which supports a German origin. In English-speaking countries, the form may also have been influenced by local pronunciation and spelling simplification.
History
Culp appears in the United States chiefly as a surname of German immigrant origin, where spelling often shifted after arrival in English-speaking communities. Because surnames were frequently altered to match pronunciation, the modern form can reflect several generations of adjustment from an original German form. The name is now established in the U.S., though it is relatively uncommon.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The name is a good example of how immigrant surnames could change shape in records while keeping the same basic meaning.
From the historical record
“Crum = Krumm, Culp = Kalb. Dabler = Dobler, Dahl, p. 314”
— Studies in Pennsylvania German Family Names