Surname Curly - Meaning and Origin
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Curly: What does the surname Curly mean?
The last name Curly is derived from the Old French word "curle" which means curl. This surname likely originated as a nickname for someone with curly hair.
The surname Curly is found in records from the 11th century in France and is thought to be of Norman descent. In England, the Curly family can be traced back to 1240 in Suffolk, when one John Curyl was recorded in the "Pipe Rolls of Norfolk" during the reign of King Henry III.
The Curly family eventually spread to North America in the 1700s, eventually settling in the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Kentucky in the mid-18th century. The family was also among the settlers who arrived in South Carolina in the late-1700s.
Today the last name Curly is found in both the United States and Europe. As the name spread throughout history, members of the family took part in a number of occupations, ranging from bee-keeping, seamstresses, farmers and merchants to political roles such as sheriffs, townspeople and more.
The origin of the name Curly is still shrouded in mystery. It is believed to have evolved from the Old French word “curle” meaning "curl" or "ringlet". From the Middle French “curler” to the Modern French “cuiller”, the evolution of the name Curly and its different variations has been documented over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisCurly: Where does the name Curly come from?
The last name Curly is most common in the United States, but is also found in other countries around the world.
In the United States, the last name Curly is most common in states like Illinois, North Carolina, and California. In Illinois, nearly 200 people share this last name, which is the highest population of people with the name in any state. North Carolina is the second most populated state with the last name Curly, having more than 150 individuals sharing it. Following this is California with more than 100 people with the last name.
Outside of the United States, Curly is also a surname found in nations like England, Canada, and Ireland. In England, this name is more common in the North West as well as the South East, but can be found through the various regions of the country. In Canada, this name is found mainly in the provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec.
The name Curly is also seen in Ireland but it is quite rare there, appearing in smaller numbers and mainly in the Cork and Wicklow regions. This surname is also found in France, with the majority of individuals living in or near the region of Brittany.
In all these places, the last name Curly is commonly used and passed down through the generations, allowing it to slowly spread across the globe.
Variations of the surname Curly
The surname Curly has a number of variants, spellings and surnames from the same origin. Curly is an English and Irish name, either derived from an old Celtic name, or a nickname from someone who had curly hair. Most of the variants of the name are anglicized Irish ones, which makes sense as Lambeth, London, where the earliest records of the name were found, was a destination for Irish immigrants during the 19th century.
The variants and spellings of the Curly surname include the Gaelic form "Ó Corraigh", as well as "Ó Curraigh", "O Corragh", "O Curraghe", "O Curragh", "Curray" and "O Corry". All these are anglicized forms of the original "Ó Corraigh" meaning "descendant of Corraigh" or the diminutive of Corraigh which means "spear".
Similar Irish surnames are Curran, Curren, Corry, Correy, Corrie, Corringham, Corr and Cury. There are also slightly different English surnames, from the same origin, such as Currin, Curran and Currall.
All these surnames are derived from the old 139 AD Celtic name Corra which meant "spear". The basis of all these surnames, Curly and its variant spellings, is likely to be a nickname for a person with curly hair that was then used as a surname.
Famous people with the name Curly
- Chris Curly: Former professional American football player.
- Jeffrey Curley: American murder victim.
- Rob Curley: Former American reporter and blogger.
- Shemp Howard: American actor best known as one of the Three Stooges.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: American funk rock band from Los Angeles, California.
- Mark Curly: American actor best known for his work on the Man From U.N.C.L.E. television series.
- Michael Curly: Canadian actor known for his various television roles.
- Stephen Curly: Canadian punk rock musician, best known for being the frontman of SNFU.
- Christy Curley: American drummer and songwriter who has worked with such acts as The Dave Matthews Band, Run-D.M.C., and P.O.D.
- John Curly: New Zealand cricketer.
- Chris Curley: British singer, member of the band Thee Faction.
- CJ Curly: American actor and singer, best known for starring in the television show Our America with Lisa Ling.