Show ContentsCurwen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Curwen family

The surname Curwen was first found in Northumberland where the "Curwens of Workington claim descent from the famous Gospatric, Earl of Northumberland. They 'took that name by covenant from Culwen, a family of Galloway, the heir whereof they had married.' Camden. De Culwen was changed to Curwen temp. Henry VI." 1

Early History of the Curwen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Curwen research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1379, 1571, 1602, 1621, 1640, 1664, 1666, 1679, 1696 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Curwen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curwen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Curwen, Curwens, Corwen, Corwyn, Curwyn, Curwin, Curvin, Corwin, Kerwen, Kerwin, Kerwyn, Kervin and many more.

Early Notables of the Curwen family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • Sir Henry Curwen
  • Robert Curwen, a landholder in 1379 in Yorkshire
  • Sir Henry and Sir Thomas Curwen of Workington Hall
  • Sir Patricius Curwen, 1st Baronet (c. 1602-1664), an English landowner and politician who supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War


United States Curwen migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Curwen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Curwen, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1797
Curwen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Curwen, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1823

Australia Curwen migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Curwen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • "Mrs. Ellen Curwen, (b. 1796), aged 32, Irish house maid from Belfast who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life for coining, transported aboard the ""Competitor"" on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 1 child" 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Curwen (post 1700) +

  • John Curwen (1816-1880), English Congregationalist minister, founder of the Tonic Sol-fa system of musical teaching
  • Sir Christopher Keith Curwen (1929-2013), Head of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 1985-1989


The Curwen Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Si je n'estoy
Motto Translation: If I were not.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor


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