NameCensus.

UK surname

Cure

A surname derived from the French word "curé", meaning a priest or clergyman.

In the 1881 census there were 239 people recorded with the Cure surname, ranking it #11,446 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 161, ranked #22,606, down from #11,446 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Poole St James and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromsgrove, Warwick and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cure is 275 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 32.6%.

1881 census count

239

Ranked #11,446

Modern count

161

2016, ranked #22,606

Peak year

1911

275 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cure had 239 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,446 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016, ranked #22,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 275 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cure surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cure surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cure surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cure over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 156 #12,552
1861 historical 200 #12,005
1881 historical 239 #11,446
1891 historical 264 #12,235
1901 historical 272 #12,440
1911 historical 275 #12,123
1997 modern 161 #20,176
1998 modern 161 #20,754
1999 modern 167 #20,374
2000 modern 166 #20,426
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 172 #20,108
2003 modern 172 #19,893
2004 modern 175 #19,805
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 163 #21,050
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 175 #20,707
2010 modern 169 #21,652
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 168 #21,516
2013 modern 165 #22,163
2014 modern 164 #22,445
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 161 #22,606

Geography

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Where Cures are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Poole St James, Bradford, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Withybrook. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromsgrove, Warwick, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Poole. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Withybrook Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromsgrove 009 Bromsgrove
2 Warwick 001 Warwick
3 Nuneaton and Bedworth 006 Nuneaton and Bedworth
4 Nuneaton and Bedworth 009 Nuneaton and Bedworth
5 Poole 007 Poole

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cure

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cure surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cure

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cure, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Cure surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cure household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cure is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cure is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cure falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cure is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cure, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cure

The surname CURE has its origins in France, tracing back to the medieval period around the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "cure," which means "cure" or "care," referring to someone who provided medical treatment or spiritual guidance.

In its earliest forms, the name was spelled as "Cure," "Curé," or "Curet," and was primarily found in regions such as Normandy, Brittany, and Paris. The name may have been given to individuals who worked as medical practitioners, priests, or members of the clergy responsible for the spiritual well-being of a parish.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CURE can be found in the Domesday Book, a famous manuscript commissioned in 1086 by William the Conqueror to record the landholdings and properties in England. The book mentions a certain "Robertus Cure" as a landowner in the county of Gloucestershire.

In the 13th century, there are records of a prominent figure named Jacques CURE, who was a renowned physician and surgeon in Paris. He is believed to have made significant contributions to the field of medicine during his time.

Another notable bearer of the surname CURE was Pierre CURE, a French Benedictine monk and scholar who lived in the 17th century (1591-1661). He was known for his work on ecclesiastical history and his writings on the lives of saints.

During the 18th century, the name CURE was associated with several notable individuals, including François CURE (1717-1778), a French architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Paris, and Jean-Baptiste CURE (1750-1827), a French painter and engraver known for his historical and religious works.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous bearers of the surname CURE was Émile CURE (1857-1916), a French novelist and playwright who wrote several popular works, including "La Vie de Bohème" and "Germinal."

Over time, the surname CURE has spread to various parts of the world, including countries like Canada, the United States, and Australia, where it has been adopted by individuals of French descent or those with connections to French-speaking regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cure families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cure surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Warwickshire leads with 62 Cures recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.59x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 62 10.59x
Dorset 31 20.35x
Devon 28 5.79x
Yorkshire 22 0.96x
Surrey 12 1.06x
Hampshire 11 2.31x
Middlesex 11 0.47x
Leicestershire 10 3.88x
Somerset 10 2.68x
Essex 8 1.75x
Gloucestershire 8 1.76x
Staffordshire 6 0.77x
Lancashire 5 0.18x
Carmarthenshire 4 4.09x
Kent 2 0.25x
Berkshire 1 0.57x
Buteshire 1 7.11x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.68x
Cornwall 1 0.38x
Shropshire 1 0.50x
Sussex 1 0.26x
West Lothian 1 2.86x
Wiltshire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poole St James in Dorset leads with 21 Cures recorded in 1881 and an index of 366.49x.

Place Total Index
Poole St James 21 366.49x
Birmingham 19 9.74x
Stoke Damerel 17 50.27x
Withybrook 12 5217.39x
Barnstaple 10 131.75x
Foleshill 9 146.10x
Hinckley 9 147.30x
Lambeth 8 3.95x
Steeple 8 3478.26x
Holdenhurst 7 56.09x
Rugby 7 88.38x
St George Hanover Square 7 17.11x
Abbots Roothing 6 3333.33x
Horninglow 6 162.60x
Taunton St James 6 110.09x
Bowling 5 21.94x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 11.66x
Manningham 5 17.64x
Carmarthen St Peter 4 47.85x
Coventry St Michael 4 21.27x
Horton In Bradford 4 11.13x
Abbas Combe 3 1071.43x
Bradford 3 5.39x
Castleton 3 10.91x
Chelsea London 3 4.29x
Leeds 3 2.31x
Southam 3 211.27x
Wimbledon 3 23.62x
Binley 2 1333.33x
Bobbingworth 2 833.33x
Bristol St Michael 2 51.28x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 11.44x
Kinson 2 67.11x
Southampton St Mary 2 6.68x
Aston 1 0.62x
Badger 1 833.33x
Boness 1 20.75x
Brafferton 1 526.32x
Brighton 1 1.27x
Burnley 1 4.31x
Chilvers Coton 1 41.49x
Coombe Bissett 1 344.83x
Crumpsall 1 15.41x
Cumbrae 1 67.57x
Hillmorton 1 96.15x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.59x
Maker 1 41.15x
Maugersbury 1 227.27x
Newington 1 1.17x
Purley 1 666.67x
Ramsgate 1 7.73x
Shipley 1 8.38x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 120.48x
St Michael Winchester 1 103.09x
Stoke 1 86.96x
Stoke Newington London 1 5.53x
Taunton St Mary 1 14.58x
Whitchurch 1 66.23x
Withycombe Rawleigh 1 39.68x
Woolwich 1 3.42x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cure surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 9
Alice 5
Hannah 5
Jane 5
Emma 4
Gertrude 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Anne 2
Augustia 2
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Annette 1
Anney 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Celia 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Corrina 1
Dinah 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Ilot 1
Isabeila 1
Jessy 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Selina 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cure surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Cure surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cure surname in 1881?

In 1881, 239 people were recorded with the Cure surname. That placed it at #11,446 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cure surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016. That gives Cure a modern rank of #22,606.

What does the Cure surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "curé", meaning a priest or clergyman.

What does the Cure map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cure bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.