Curson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Today's generation of the Curson family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Curson family lived in Derbyshire. The family originally lived in Notre Dame de Curson in Calvados, Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Curson family

The surname Curson was first found in Derbyshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Curzon. Geraldine (Giraline) arrived in England with William the Conqueror in 1066 A.D., and attended him at Hastings. Giraline de Curson, Lord of Locking, in Berkshire, occurs amongst the most munificent benefactors to the Abbey of Abingdon. From him descended the Curzons of Croxhall. 1

Geraldine came from Notre Dame de Curson in Calvados in Normandy. By 1086, the taking of the Domesday Book survey, his son Hubert had also acquired the lands of West Lockinge in Berkshire. The family also continued in Normandy and Hubert was the Lord of Curson in 1223. 2

Robert of Courson or Courçon (also written de Curson, or Curzon) (c. 1160/1170 - 1219) was an English-born, scholar at the University of Paris and later a cardinal and papal legate.

"The Cursons of Dereham bear one of the oldest of Norfolk names. The ancient family of this name held large estates in the county from the 13th to the 15th century." 3

Kedleston Hall in Kedleston, Derbyshire is one of the most well known family seats the Curzon family who have held the estate since 1297. Today it is a National Trust property. "The large and elegant mansion of Farnah Hall [in Duffield, Derbyshire], a seat of the Curzon family, stands in a fine park, near the Wirksworth road." 4

Robert Curson, De Courcon, De Corcrone or De Curchun (d. 1218), was an early English Cardinal, "born at Kedleston in Derbyshire, was a member of a noble family. He is said to have studied at Oxford, and certainly did so at Paris, where he became a scholar of some eminence, and from Paris went to Rome." 5

Early History of the Curson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Curson research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1599, 1609, 1611, 1640, 1648, 1657, 1678, 1682, 1686, 1687, 1727, 1750 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Curson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curson Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Curson include Curzon, Curson, Cursone, Courson, Courzon and others.

Early Notables of the Curson family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir Thomas Curson, 1st Baronet of Water Perry, Oxford (1611-1682)
Sir John Curson, 2nd Baronet (c. 1657-1727)
Sir Francis Curson, 3rd Baronet (c. 1678-1750)

Migration of the Curson family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Cursons to arrive on North American shores: Pierre Courson who settled in Louisiana in 1719.

Contemporary Notables of the name Curson (post 1700) +

David Alan "Dave" Curson (b. 1948), American union representative and former member of the United States House of Representatives (2012-2013)
Theodore "Ted" Curson (1935-2012), American jazz trumpeter, best known for recording and performing with Charles Mingus
Sharon A. Curson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 2000 6
David Alan Curson (b. 1948), American Democratic Party politician, Automobile worker; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 2000, 2004, 2008; U.S. Representative from Michigan 11th District, 2012-13 6
Thomas Curson Hansard (1776-1833), English printer and son of Luke Hansard, eponym of Hansard, the traditional name of the transcripts of Parliamentary Debates in Britain and some commonwealth countries and the Hansard Society in 1944 to promote parliamentary democracy; the first subscribers were Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee 7

The Curson Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Let Curzon holde what Curzon helde
Motto Translation: Let Curzon hold what Curzon held

Citations +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020