Curragh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

The origin of the name Curragh is uncertain. It may be a toponymic name derived from one of the places in Ireland called Curragh, the most famous of which is the Curragh of Kildare. The Gaelic word "curach" meaning "champion" or "hero" could also have been the origin of the name. Finally, in some cases, the name is of Scottish origin and is the Irish form of MacCurrach, a sept of the MacPherson clan.

Early Origins of the Curragh family

The surname Curragh was first found in the southern part of County Down, and the northern part of Louth, where Thomas Curragh, a farmer of Kilpatrick, was recorded in 1428 in a case in Archbishop Swayne's register. In the following century the name was found in and near Dublin. Richard Curragh was a farmer of Raheny in 1561, and another Richard Curragh was a member of the Merchant Tailor's Guild, and was made a freeman of Dublin city in 1589. The Curragh of Kildare is an expanse of plains land, famed for horse riding and races, that has been used for military purposes since antiquity.

Important Dates for the Curragh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Curragh research. More information is included under the topic Early Curragh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curragh Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Curragh, Curra, Currah and others.

Early Notables of the Curragh family (pre 1700)

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

Curragh migration to the United States

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Curragh Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Henry Curragh, who was naturalized in Ohio in 1855
• Fanny Curragh, who landed in New York in 1882