Show ContentsCurwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Curwood family

The surname Curwood was first found in Northumberland where the "Curwens of Workington claim descent from the famous Gospatric, Earl of Northumberland. They 'took that name by covenant from Culwen, a family of Galloway, the heir whereof they had married.' Camden. De Culwen was changed to Curwen temp. Henry VI." [1]

Early History of the Curwood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Curwood research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1379, 1571, 1602, 1621, 1640, 1664, 1666, 1679, 1696 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Curwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curwood Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Curwen, Curwens, Corwen, Corwyn, Curwyn, Curwin, Curvin, Corwin, Kerwen, Kerwin, Kerwyn, Kervin and many more.

Early Notables of the Curwood family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Sir Henry Curwen; Robert Curwen, a landholder in 1379 in Yorkshire; Sir Henry and Sir Thomas Curwen of Workington Hall; Sir Patricius Curwen, 1st Baronet (c. 1602-1664), an English landowner and politician who supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War; George Corwin...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Curwood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Curwood family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: 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 Curwood (post 1700) +

  • Steve Curwood (b. 1947), American journalist, author and public radio personality
  • James Oliver "Jim" Curwood (1878-1927), American action-adventure writer and conservationist
  • Albert Curwood, English professional footballer

HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Walter Leslie Curwood (1917-1941), Australian Wireman from East Brunswick, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [2]


The Curwood 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. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


Houseofnames.com on Facebook