Show ContentsCurly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Curly surname is an Anglicization, derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac Toirdhealbhaigh."

Early Origins of the Curly family

The surname Curly was first found in the Connacht counties of Galway and Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht, where the places names Ballymacurley and Curley's Island can be found. There is also legend in Ireland, that the name descends from Maolduin, the second son of the 164th Monarch of Ireland, who founded the clanns of Muldoon. Maolduin's great, great grandson was Clercen, whose name means "curly one." Clercen founded the Clan O'Cleircen, which anglicized is Curley or Curling.

Early History of the Curly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Curly research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1305 is included under the topic Early Curly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curly Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Corley, MacCorley, Curley, Curlee, Curling, Kirley, McKerley, McCurley, McCurly and many more.

Early Notables of the Curly family

More information is included under the topic Early Curly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Curly migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Curly Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mary Curly, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 1
Curly Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Bridget Curly, aged 20, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1776 1
Curly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • M Curly, aged 12, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1847 1
  • Thomas Curly, aged 40, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1847 1

Canada Curly migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Curly Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mrs. Curly, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
Curly Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Curly, aged 30, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Reward" from Cork, Ireland
  • John Curly, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland
  • Patrick Curly, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland

Contemporary Notables of the name Curly (post 1700) +

  • Curly Twiford (1896-1956), American owner and trainer of "Jimmy the raven" which was featured in You Can't Take It With You (1938), It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  • Curly Thirlwell, American two-time Academy Award nominated sound engineer
  • Curly Haugland, American Republican politician, Member of Republican National Committee from North Dakota, 2008; Delegate to Republican National Convention from North Dakota, 2008 2


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 5) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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