Show ContentsCurie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Curie. The Curie family lived the place named Currie, derived from Gaelic curraigh, in Midlothian, on record since 1230. Some instances of this name in Scotland are also known to have derived the place name Corrie in Dumfriesshire.

Early Origins of the Curie family

The surname Curie was first found in Midlothian, where "Philip de Curry granted the lands of Dalhengun and Bargower in Kyle to the Abbey of Melrose, 1179. About 1210 Peter de Curri witnessed a charter by Malcolm Loccard, and John Curry of Scotland is mentioned in an Annandale charter, 1238." [1]

"Hugh de Corrie witnessed a charter of a fishery in Torduf c. 1194-1211, and as de Corri he witnessed resignation of land in Weremundebi and Anant within the same period. Radulph de Cony witnessed a charter by Henry de Grahame a. 1200." [1]

In England, Dodda æt Curi was listed as an Old English Byname in Somerset c1075; and Richard de Cury was listed in Somerset in 1212. [2] Curry, Curry-Mallet, North Curry and Curry-Rivell are all found in Somerset. It is thought that North Curry is the oldest as "this place appears to have been known to the Romans, an urn containing a quantity of silver coins of that people having been discovered in 1748: it was subsequently held by the Saxon kings, and retained in demesne by the Conqueror." [3]

Later records show Robert atte Curie in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. [2]

Early History of the Curie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Curie research. Another 544 words (39 lines of text) covering the years 1179, 1243, 1260, 1271, 1274, 1291, 1296, 1330, 1339, 1342, 1362, 1364, 1379, 1398, 1400, 1449, 1506, 1511, 1526, 1528, 1547, 1549, 1570, 1641, 1652, 1689, 1691, 1693, 1780, 1799, 1817, 1820, 1840, 1875 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Curie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curie Spelling Variations

The variation in the spelling of Medieval names is a result of the lack of spelling rules in the English language prior to the last few hundred years. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound, often varying the spelling of name within a single document. Curie has appeared as Currie, Curry, Currey and others.

Early Notables of the Curie family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Sir Frederick Currie (1799-1875), Indian official, third son of Mark Currie of Cobham, Surrey, by Elizabeth, daughter of John Close of Easby, Yorkshire, was born on 3 Feb. 1799. He was educated at Charterhouse and the East India Company's College...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Curie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curie Ranking

In France, the name Curie is the 8,318th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. [4]

Ireland Migration of the Curie family to Ireland

Some of the Curie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 202 words (14 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Curie migration to the United States +

As the persecution of Clan families continued, they sailed for North America in increasing numbers. In most cases, they found the freedom and opportunity they sought. Land was often available and the American War of Independence allowed Scots an opportunity to solidify their independence from the English crown. These settlers and their ancestors went on to play essential roles in the forging of the nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:

Curie Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Joane Curie, who landed in Virginia in 1652 [5]
  • Tho Curie, who landed in Virginia in 1665 [5]
Curie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Curie, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Curie (post 1700) +

  • Marie Curie (1867-1934), French (Polish born) scientist best known for discovering radium and polonium and was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes
  • Frédéric Joliot Curie (1900-1958), French physicist awarded the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with his wife Irène
  • Irène Joliot Curie (1897-1956), French scientist awarded the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with her husband Frédéric
  • Pierre Curie (1859-1906), French scientist awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics with his wife Marie


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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