First found in county Clare, where they were an ancient Thomond sept whose family seat was at Ennistymon. They were anciently seated as Chiefs of the Clann Cruitin. Their territories were in the barony of Corcomroe, County Clare, where they and the MacBrodys were hereditary ollaves (master-poets) and as such sat next to the king at the table and was privileged, as none else but the queen was, to wear six different colors in his clothes.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Cornelius Curtin, age 29, who arrived in America in 1885, James Curtin, who came to Antigua in 1798, Thomas Curtin, who came to Mobile Alabama in 1857, TG Curtin, who settled in San Francisco in 1860, David Curtin, who arrived in Arkansas in 1874, as well as Thomas Curtin, who came to Nova Scotia in 1831..

For more information on the last name Curtin, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.