NameCensus.

UK surname

Curle

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the place of the curled one."

In the 1881 census there were 349 people recorded with the Curle surname, ranking it #8,778 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 596, ranked #8,758, up from #8,778 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Teignbridge and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Curle is 640 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.8%.

1881 census count

349

Ranked #8,778

Modern count

596

2016, ranked #8,758

Peak year

2000

640 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Curle had 349 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,778 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016, ranked #8,758.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 501 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Curle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Curle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Curle 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 300 #7,650
1861 historical 258 #9,603
1881 historical 349 #8,778
1891 historical 386 #9,138
1901 historical 501 #8,045
1911 historical 427 #8,843
1997 modern 592 #8,226
1998 modern 610 #8,295
1999 modern 612 #8,336
2000 modern 640 #8,031
2001 modern 620 #8,085
2002 modern 632 #8,145
2003 modern 621 #8,112
2004 modern 609 #8,257
2005 modern 626 #8,008
2006 modern 622 #8,073
2007 modern 622 #8,126
2008 modern 611 #8,284
2009 modern 620 #8,385
2010 modern 617 #8,604
2011 modern 608 #8,597
2012 modern 596 #8,658
2013 modern 619 #8,526
2014 modern 614 #8,643
2015 modern 598 #8,763
2016 modern 596 #8,758

Geography

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Where Curles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Teignbridge, Tendring, Carmarthenshire and Torridge. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
2 Teignbridge 002 Teignbridge
3 Tendring 002 Tendring
4 Carmarthenshire 021 Carmarthenshire
5 Torridge 004 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Curle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Curle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Curle, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Curle is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Curle is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Curle falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Curle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Curle

The surname Curle originated in Scotland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "cyrle," meaning a curl or twist, possibly referring to someone with curly hair or a distinctive physical feature.

One of the earliest known references to the name Curle can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 13th century, where a person named Cuthbert Curle is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.

In the 14th century, records show the surname being spelled as "Curyl" or "Curyll," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. One notable figure from this period was John Curle, a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Galloway from 1364 to 1386.

By the 16th century, the name had gained a more widespread presence across Scotland. The famous Scottish writer and historian, Robert Lindsey of Pitscottie, born around 1500, was also known as Robert Curle, indicating the interchangeable use of surnames at the time.

In the 17th century, the surname Curle appeared in various records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1691, which documented households for tax purposes. One notable individual from this era was Sir Thomas Curle, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived from 1639 to 1712.

The 18th century saw the emergence of several prominent individuals with the surname Curle. Walter Curle, born in 1701, was a Scottish philosopher and writer who published works on moral philosophy and theology. Another notable figure was James Curle, born in 1756, a Scottish merchant and banker who co-founded the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

In the 19th century, the Curle surname continued to be associated with notable figures. Archibald Curle, born in 1804, was a Scottish lawyer and writer who served as a judge in the Court of Session. Additionally, James Curle, born in 1862, was a Scottish archaeologist and curator at the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh.

Throughout its history, the surname Curle has been linked to various locations and place names in Scotland, such as Curlehill in Lanarkshire and Curlie's Haugh in Perthshire, further cementing its Scottish roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Curle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Curle 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. Middlesex leads with 71 Curles recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 71 2.10x
Midlothian 40 8.85x
Roxburghshire 31 50.71x
Surrey 25 1.52x
Norfolk 21 4.05x
Devon 17 2.42x
Durham 15 1.49x
Lanarkshire 14 1.28x
Yorkshire 14 0.42x
Northumberland 13 2.59x
Berwickshire 10 24.47x
Selkirkshire 9 29.48x
Kent 8 0.69x
Lincolnshire 8 1.48x
Ayrshire 6 2.38x
Lancashire 6 0.15x
Suffolk 6 1.46x
Cumberland 5 1.72x
Essex 5 0.75x
Westmorland 5 6.74x
Glamorgan 4 0.68x
Gloucestershire 2 0.30x
Royal Navy 2 4.97x
Somerset 2 0.37x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.49x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Hertfordshire 1 0.43x
Sussex 1 0.18x
West Lothian 1 1.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 23 Curles recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.64x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 23 12.64x
Melrose 17 321.36x
Camberwell 13 6.03x
Plymouth Charles The 12 38.77x
Bishopwearmouth 11 12.76x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 11 102.80x
Bromley London 10 13.47x
Galashiels 9 79.72x
St Giles Cripplegate 9 200.89x
Downham Market 8 224.09x
Dunse 8 206.19x
Hackney London 8 4.23x
Mavis Enderby 8 5000.00x
St Giles In Fields London 8 48.31x
Jedburgh 7 116.86x
Leeds 7 3.71x
St Boswells 7 630.63x
Ardrossan 6 68.65x
Battersea 6 4.83x
Lowick 6 342.86x
St George Bloomsbury 6 30.99x
St Pancras London 6 2.21x
Warham All Sts 6 2142.86x
Berwick Upon Tweed 5 46.99x
Brougham 5 1470.59x
Maidstone 5 14.58x
Rutherglen 5 31.23x
Sculcoates 5 9.43x
St Marylebone London 5 2.77x
Barony 4 1.45x
Binham 4 727.27x
Newington 4 3.21x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 7.39x
Poplar London 4 6.28x
West Ham 4 2.72x
Arthuret 3 99.01x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 24.98x
Felixstow 3 300.00x
Hammersmith London 3 3.61x
Hornsey 3 7.03x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 26.04x
Shildon 3 37.17x
South Leith 3 5.90x
Toxteth Park 3 2.21x
Bristol St Paul In 2 11.34x
Brompton Ralph 2 408.16x
Cambusnethan 2 8.25x
Crompton 2 17.53x
Edinburgh New 2 56.98x
Greenlaw 2 137.93x
Holy Trinity 2 2.49x
Lakenham 2 27.14x
Llangeinor 2 57.80x
Penrith 2 18.62x
Royal Navy 2 5.82x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.94x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.36x
Swansea Town 2 4.15x
Tottenham 2 3.72x
Westminster St John 2 4.87x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.53x
Dalkeith 1 11.21x
Dalmeny 1 51.55x
Edlesborough 1 53.76x
Fulham London 1 2.04x
Glasgow 1 0.52x
Govan 1 0.37x
Gulval 1 40.65x
Hamilton 1 3.29x
Holdenhurst 1 5.51x
Hove 1 4.00x
Ilfracombe 1 13.83x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 3.33x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.84x
North Meols 1 2.55x
Norwich St Helen 1 156.25x
Norwood 1 12.95x
Shoreditch London 1 0.68x
Walthamstow 1 4.17x
Watford 1 5.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 9
Annie 7
Emma 4
Alice 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Margaret 3
Rebecca 3
Ann 2
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Marian 2
Alma 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Celia 1
Elizab. 1
Elizabeth.G. 1
Ellenor 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
K. 1
Kate 1
Kim 1
Leonora 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Nellie 1
Phoebe 1
Rosetta 1
Selina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 14
Henry 10
George 9
James 8
Robert 7
Alfred 6
Charles 6
David 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
A.L. 1
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
Cornelius 1
Ernest 1
F.L. 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Leonard 1
Oliver 1
Philip 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Willm.J. 1

FAQ

Curle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Curle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 349 people were recorded with the Curle surname. That placed it at #8,778 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Curle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016. That gives Curle a modern rank of #8,758.

What does the Curle surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the place of the curled one."

What does the Curle map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Curle 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.