Contents [hide]

Curry History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Curry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland
England

The name Curry was first used by the ancient Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The first Curry to use this name no doubt 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 Curry family

The surname Curry 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 Curry family

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

Curry Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Curry has been spelled Currie, Curry, Currey and others.

Early Notables of the Curry 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 Curry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curry Ranking

In the United States, the name Curry is the 313^rd most popular surname with an estimated 87,045 people with that name. 4 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Curry is ranked the 860^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,905 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Curry family to Ireland

Some of the Curry 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.

Curry migration to the United States +

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them:

Curry Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Barbery Curry, who arrived in Maryland in 1661 6
Thomas Curry, who arrived in Maryland in 1661 6
Alexander Curry, who landed in Maryland in 1679 6
Robert Curry, who landed in Maryland in 1684 6

Curry Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Eliza Curry, aged 12, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 6
Jane Curry, aged 36, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 6
William Curry, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 6
Conell Curry, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 6
Henry Curry, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Curry migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Curry Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Ephraim Curry U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 7
Mr. Ephraim Curry U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 7
Mr. Ephraim Curry Sr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 7
Mr. James Curry U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 7
Mr. James Curry U.E. who settled in Eastern District, Lancaster, Glengarry County, Ontario c. 1783 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Curry Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Norry Curry, aged 23, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
Thomas Curry, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
Ann Curry, aged 27, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
Catherine Curry, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
Dennis Curry, aged 56, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Curry migration to Australia +

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

Curry Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Curry, (b. 1791), aged 25, English gardener who was convicted in Shrewsbury, Shorpshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1824 8
James Curry, a weaver, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Miss Eliza Curry, (Elizabeth), (b. 1803), aged 23, Irish dairy maid who was convicted in Londonderry, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Martin Curry, (b. 1814), aged 20, Irish convict who was convicted in County Laois (Queens County), Ireland, transported aboard the "Forth" on 21st October 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1854 10
Mr. Thomas Curry (b. 1814), aged 19, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 31st December 1833, sentenced for 7 years for stealing a drake and a mallard from Henry Heim, transported aboard the ship "Surrey" on 9th April 1834 to New South Wales, Australia 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Curry 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:

Curry Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Curry, aged 16, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
Catherine Curry, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 12
Thomas Curry, aged 46, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1865 13
Elizabeth Curry, aged 42, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1865 13
Thomas Curry, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1865 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Curry (post 1700) +

Timothy James "Tim" Curry (b. 1946), Emmy Award-winning and three-time Tony Award-nominated English actor, singer, and composer, best known for his role in the cult movie Rocky Horror Picture Show
John A. Curry (1934-2023), American academic administrator, 5th President of Northeastern University from 1989 to 1996
Harold J. Curry (1932-2022), American lawyer and politician, born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, he served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1964 to 1968
Brooks Curry (b. 2001), American swimmer, who won an Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Margaret L. Taylor Curry (1898-1986), American state parole officer, medical social worker, the first female parole officer for the Colorado Department of Corrections in 1952; she pioneered vocational training and education for women prisoners in Colorado, inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1996
Clifford Curry Jr. (1936-2016), American beach music and R&B singer
George E. Curry (1947-2016), American journalist, known for his weekly commentaries which had a wide syndication
Major General John Francis Curry (1886-1973), the first national commander of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary
Wayne Keith Curry (1951-2014), American politician, 5th Prince George's, Maryland County Executive (1994-2002)
Robert Curry, American Olympic gold medalist for wrestling at the 1904 Summer Games
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Curry family +

North Sea Flood

James Curry, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
Thomas Ronald Curry, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" who survived the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)

Joseph Patrick Curry (1957-1988), American Army Captain from Fort Devens, Massachusetts, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 14

USS Arizona

Mr. William Joseph Curry, American Water Tender Second Class from Oregon, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 15

Citations +

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=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)
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/forth
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html