Show ContentsCurrie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the name Currie are found among the Strathclyde-Briton people of the ancient Scottish/English Borderlands. Currie was originally found 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 Currie family

The surname Currie 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 Currie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Currie 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 Currie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Currie Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Currie has been spelled Currie, Curry, Currey and others.

Early Notables of the Currie 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...

Currie World Ranking

In the United States, the name Currie is the 1,791st most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. [4] However, in Canada, the name Currie is ranked the 358th most popular surname with an estimated 12,669 people with that name. [5] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Currie is the 767th popular surname with an estimated 55 people with that name. [6] Australia ranks Currie as 539th with 7,183 people. [7] New Zealand ranks Currie as 277th with 2,214 people. [8] The United Kingdom ranks Currie as 506th with 12,825 people. [9]

Ireland Migration of the Currie family to Ireland

Some of the Currie 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 Currie migration to the United States +

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:

Currie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Currie, who landed in America in 1750 [10]
  • Catharine Currie, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 [10]
Currie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James, Currie Jr., who landed in America in 1811 [10]
  • Josias Currie, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 [10]
  • Thomas Currie, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1812 [10]
  • Angus Currie, aged 42, who arrived in North Carolina in 1812 [10]
  • Bernard Currie, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1812 [10]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Currie migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Currie Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Richard Currie U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 [11]
  • Mr. David Currie, "Curry" U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 [11]
  • Mr. Joshua Currie, "Curry, Currey" U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 [11]
  • Lt. Ross Currie, "Curry" U.E. born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 member of the Pennsylvania Loyalists Regiment [11]
Currie Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Currie, who arrived in Canada in 1816

Australia Currie migration to Australia +

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

Currie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Currie, Scottish convict who was convicted in Ayr, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [12]
  • Lancelot William Currie, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "City Of Adelaide" in 1839 [13]
  • Mary Currie, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Bute" in 1839 [14]
  • Lawrence Currie, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Munn" in 1849 [15]
  • Michael Currie, Scottish convict from Scotland, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on August 08, 1849, settling in Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia [16]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Currie migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Currie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Archibald Currie, Scottish settler travelling from Leith aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January 1858 [17]
  • Mrs. Currie, Scottish settler with 5 children travelling from Leith aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January 1858 [17]
  • Mr. Isaac Currie, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Tamar" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 28th January 1858 [17]
  • Mrs. Isabel Currie, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Tamar" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 28th January 1858 [17]
  • Miss Eliza Currie, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Tamar" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 28th January 1858 [17]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Currie (post 1700) +

  • Monique Currie (b. 1983), American WNBA basketball player
  • Nancy Jane Sherlock Currie (b. 1958), United States Army officer, and NASA astronaut
  • Lauchlin Bernard Currie (1902-1993), American (Canadian-born) economist
  • Paul Currie (b. 1985), Scottish footballer from Edinburgh
  • Ken Currie (b. 1960), Scottish painter
  • Gilbert A Currie (1882-1960), U.S. politician, U.S. Representative from Michigan (1917-1921)
  • Joseph Austin Currie (1939-2021), Irish politician, Minister of State for Justice from 1994 to 1997, Member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland for East Tyrone (1964-1972)
  • Trevor "Hughroy Currie" Currie (1959-2021), Jamaican-born, British heavyweight boxer, British champion between 1985 and 1986
  • Sir Frederick Currie (1799-1875), 1st Baronet, Foreign Secretary to the Indian Government and a member of the Supreme Council of India [18]
  • Hugh Roy Currie (1925-2017), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey defenceman who played in one game for the Montreal Canadiens during the 1950-1951 NHL season
  • ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Kate  Currie (1882-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [19]
  • Miss May  Currie (1900-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [19]
  • Miss Florence  Currie (1902-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [19]
  • Miss Ruby  Currie (1905-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [19]
HMS Halsted
  • Mr. George Nelson Currie (b. 1921), Scottish Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve able seaman from Midlothian, Scotland was stationed aboard the "HMS Halsted" when it was struck by torpedo by Jaguar and Mowe of the Cherbourg coast on 11th June 1944, he did not survive
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Robert Currie (b. 1921), Scottish Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Glasgow, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [20]
  • Mr. George Currie (b. 1914), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Ashton-under-lyne, Manchester, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [20]
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. George Currie, English First Waiter from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking [21]
SS Caribou
  • Mr. William Currie (b. 1911), Newfoundland crew member from Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking
  • Mr. Thomas Aubrey Currie (b. 1915), British passenger who was Royal Army Corporal from Tolford, Pictou County, Nova Scotia was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking


  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. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. 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)
  11. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  12. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 28th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
  13. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CITY OF ADELAIDE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839CityOfAdelaide.htm
  14. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY BUTE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839LadyBute.gif
  15. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN MUNN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849JohnMunnPassengers.htm
  16. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia in 1849 with 303 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1849
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
  19. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  20. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  21. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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