Cullen is a proper noun that has multiple meanings and origins.
1. In Scottish and Irish surnames: Cullen is a variant of the Gaelic name "Mac Cuilinn" which means "son of Cuileann." Cuileann is the Gaelic word for "holly," and the name Cullen suggests a connection to the holly tree or the surname's ancestral symbolism and significance. This surname is commonly found in Scotland and Ireland.
2. In geography: "Cullen" refers to several towns and places worldwide. The most notable is Cullen, a small coastal village in Moray, Scotland. It is also the name of Cullen, a town in Germany, Cullen Bay, a suburb of Darwin, Australia, and Cullen, a settlement in Newfoundland, Canada, among others.
3. In literature: "Cullen" may refer to Edward Cullen, a fictional character from Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. Edward Cullen is a vampire and one of the leading characters in the book and movie adaptations.
4. In medicine and biology: "Cullen's sign" is a medical sign named after Dr. Thomas Stephen Cullen, an American physician. It is characterized by superficial edema and bruising around the umbilicus, indicating intra-abdominal bleeding, typically seen in cases of severe acute pancreatitis or ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
Additionally, "Cullen" as a given name may exist independent of these contexts.
