Show ContentsCurvin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The annals of Scottish history suggest that the ancestors of the name Curvin lived among the Boernician tribe of the Scottish-English border region. The Curvin family lived in Cumberland, where it was originally associated with Culwen. Culwen or Culewen is the old spelling of Colvend which was located near the river Urr, Kirkcudbrightshire.

Early Origins of the Curvin family

The surname Curvin was first found in Northumberland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Curvin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Curvin research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1379, 1554, 1558, 1559, 1567, 1571, 1621 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Curvin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curvin Spelling Variations

In the Middles Ages scribes spelled names by their sound. Often a name was written under a different spelling variation each time it was recorded. Curvin has appeared as Curwen, Curwens, Corwen, Corwyn, Curwyn, Curwin, Curvin, Corwin, Kerwen, Kerwin, Kerwyn, Kervin and many more.

Early Notables of the Curvin family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Curvin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Curvin family

The ancestors of Boernician-Scottish settlers dot North America even today. They settled all along the east coast when they came over, but some went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the War of Independence. However, these strong lines endured as Scottish families in the United States and Canada have rediscovered much of the heritage that was taken from them centuries ago. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Curvin, or a variant listed above: Mathias Corwin, who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1634; George Corwin, who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1638; from Cumberland, England; Jonathan Curwin, who settled in Massachusetts in 1641.


Contemporary Notables of the name Curvin (post 1700) +

  • Robert Curvin (1934-2015), American scholar and poverty advocate for Newark, New Jersey
  • Harry F. Curvin (1898-1979), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Rhode Island State House of Representatives, 1931-64; Speaker of the Rhode Island State House of Representatives, 1941-64 1
  • Curvin Richards (b. 1968), former professional American football running back who played from 1991 to 1994


The Curvin 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: Si je n'estoy
Motto Translation: If I were not.


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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