Surname Curlie - Meaning and Origin

Curlie: What does the surname Curlie mean?

The last name Curlie is believed to have originated in Britain and Ireland as a surname derived from a location name; however, its exact origin is uncertain. It is possible that the name was derived from a French place name, such as Coeurly, or from a Gaelic term, such as Càrn Liath, meaning “gray cairn”.

The Curlie surname has several variants, including Curley, Curly, and Curtly. In Ireland, the name is generally found in Counties Donegal and Kerry, as well as in the North of Connacht. In Scotland, the name is found mainly in the Highlands, and in England, it is mainly found in the West Country.

The meaning of the surname Curlie is not definitively known, though there are various interpretations of its origins. Some suggest that the name is derived from the Gaelic term ‘Curlie’ which means “small speckled hill”. Others suggest that the name comes from the Anglo-Norman French “coer de li” meaning “heart of a lion”, while still others surmise that it is derived from the Gaelic “carne liath” meaning “gray stone” or “gray cairn”.

Regardless of the actual root of the name, the Curlie surname represents an interesting and vibrant history that is associated with the many cultures of Britain and Ireland. As with many surnames, the individual stories and meanings attached to the name can only be truly discovered through researching individual family lines.

Curlie: Where does the name Curlie come from?

The surname Curlie is common today mainly in Australia and the United Kingdom. It is believed to have originated from the Irish name O’Curious, which was derived from the Gaelic term “curaidh” meaning “hero.”

The majority of people with the surname Curlie are located in the Anglosphere, the geographical area where English is the dominant language. Australia is the highest concentrated population region with almost 6,000 people surnamed Curlie according to geonames.com. The United Kingdom follows close behind with 4,500 people having the name, although the physical distance between the two countries is vast.

Curlie is a relatively uncommon name in comparison to popular surnames such as Smith, Miller, and Brown. According to data from the US Census Bureau, it is ranked in the top 5,000 most common surnames and is the 15,612th most common surname in the United States.

The surname can also be found in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and a few other countries with smaller communities of the surname Curlie. in the United States, it is most common in the state of Indiana, according to House of Names.

Variations of the surname Curlie

Looking at different variants or surnames of the same origin for the surname Curlie, the following list can be obtained:

Curl

Curle

Curley

Curly

Courney

Cournye

Cureen

Originally, the surname Curlie is believed to come from the word 'coir', which is an old English word meaning 'a bristly hair'. This indicates that the first bearers of this surname were people who were known for their spiky or curly hair.

In addition to its original language of Old English, the surname Curlie is also known to appear in different forms even in other languages, due to the influence of a variety of cultures. For example, in Irish, the surname is known to be spelled as Curran, Currin, and Curran. In Scotland, other variants such as Currie and Curren can be seen.

In the United States, the surname Curlie is common among those of African American descent, and is also seen to be commonly modified into forms such as Curley and Curly. With the influence of American-influenced English in other countries, these spellings are also becoming more commonplace.

In general, variations of the surname are found all around the world, with variations such as Courney and Cournye occurring in countries like Australia, Courneen in France, and Courin in Germany.

Overall, the Curlie surname is a rare name variant of various other surnames. It is believed that the name has been around since at least the 11th century, although its original meaning has been lost.

Famous people with the name Curlie

• Arnold Curlie: Singer-songwriter and producer
• Betsy Curlie: Actress
• Douglas Curlie: Actor
• Keara Curlie: actress
• Holly Curlie: Actress
• Ryan Curlie: Comedian
• Parker Curlie: Actor
• Joe Curlie: Singer
• Larry Curlie Jr.: Football Player
• Tom Curlie: Singer-songwriter
• Lee Curlie: Actor
• Mark Curlie: Musician
• Sean Curlie: Actor
• Richard Curlie: Actor
• W.S. Curlie: Painter
• Lou Curlie: Musician
• Michael Curlie: Actor
• Michael Curlie Jr.: Actor
• Tim Curlie: Baseball Player
• Todd Curlie: Professional surfer

Other surnames

CurlieuCurlile