Curliss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

The name Curliss is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Curliss was a name used for a person who was believed to be free from care or unconcerned. The nickname is derived from the Old English word carleas, which referred to a "cheerful, merry" person. ^[1]

One source claims that the name is a derivation of "Carlos, or its original, Carolus," ^[2] and we shall see later, Carlos was indeed still used by some people as late as the 17th century.

Early Origins of the Curliss family

The surname Curliss was first found in Gloucestershire, but some of the family were found in Lancashire at Welsh Whittle in early times. "In that of Edward III., Sir William Careles held the manor, so called, of Walshwittell. " ^[3]

Later some of the family were found in Worcestershire, where "Careless is at present an Evesham name, and Carless is still a Worcester name. " ^[4] There was only one entry for the family in Yorkshire at the time of the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379: Willelmus Careles. ^[5]

Important Dates for the Curliss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Curliss research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1260, 1379, 1570, 1700, 1722, 1769, 1610, 1689, 1619, 1665, 1670 and 1651 are included under the topic Early Curliss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curliss Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Curliss include Carlesse, Carelesse, Careless, Carless, Karelees, Kareles, Careles, Corless, Curless, Korelees and many more.

Early Notables of the Curliss family (pre 1700)

Notables of the family at this time include Willelmus Careles, a prominent 14th century landholder in Yorkshire Colonel William Careless, Carles or Carlos (c. 1610-1689), was an English Royalist officer of the English Civil War, companion of King Charles II when the fugitive monarch hid in the Royal Oak following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester. "A family of the name of Carlosia described as of Stratford-on-Avon in the 'Visitation of Warwickshire' in 1619." The source goes on to note that he is thought to have been "the son of Anthony Careless, of the Clothiers' Company in Worcester in 1665, who...
Another 204 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Curliss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curliss migration to Australia

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

Curliss Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Bridget Curliss, aged 23, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Nashwauk" ^[6]

Citations

1. ^ Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
2. ^ Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
3. ^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
4. ^ Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
5. ^ Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
6. ^ South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nashwauk 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml