NameCensus.

UK surname

Curran

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Corráin, meaning "descendant of Corrán," a personal name derived from corrán, meaning "sickle."

In the 1881 census there were 2,509 people recorded with the Curran surname, ranking it #1,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,230, ranked #707, up from #1,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Toryglen and Oatlands, Bridgeton and Braidfauld.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Curran is 9,427 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 267.9%.

1881 census count

2,509

Ranked #1,784

Modern count

9,230

2016, ranked #707

Peak year

2010

9,427 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Curran had 2,509 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,230 in 2016, ranked #707.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,748 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Curran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Curran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Curran 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 872 #3,132
1861 historical 1,091 #2,574
1881 historical 2,509 #1,784
1891 historical 2,878 #1,648
1901 historical 3,748 #1,502
1911 historical 2,718 #1,904
1997 modern 8,757 #721
1998 modern 9,052 #724
1999 modern 9,167 #722
2000 modern 9,064 #728
2001 modern 8,813 #730
2002 modern 9,052 #732
2003 modern 8,832 #728
2004 modern 8,875 #728
2005 modern 8,784 #723
2006 modern 8,818 #719
2007 modern 8,925 #716
2008 modern 9,015 #710
2009 modern 9,198 #713
2010 modern 9,427 #712
2011 modern 9,285 #716
2012 modern 9,077 #716
2013 modern 9,225 #718
2014 modern 9,343 #711
2015 modern 9,277 #709
2016 modern 9,230 #707

Geography

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Where Currans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Toryglen and Oatlands, Bridgeton, Braidfauld, Carntyne West and Haghill and Doncaster. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
2 Bridgeton Glasgow City
3 Braidfauld Glasgow City
4 Carntyne West and Haghill Glasgow City
5 Doncaster 006 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Curran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Curran

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Curran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Curran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Curran 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

Curran is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Curran falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Curran 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Curran

The surname Curran has its origins in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "O'Currain," which means "descendant of the curran." The word "curran" is believed to be derived from the Old Irish word "coir," meaning "blemish" or "speckle."

In its earliest appearances, the name was often spelled as "O'Currain" or "O'Currayn." It is believed that the name originated in County Down, where it was particularly prevalent in the areas around Newry and Kilkeel. Some early records show the name appearing in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, dating back to the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Curran was Muircheartach O'Currain, a prominent Irish churchman who lived in the late 12th century and served as the Archbishop of Armagh from 1176 to 1201. Another notable figure was Sir John Curran (c. 1630-1686), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a member of the Irish House of Commons.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of John Philpot Curran (1750-1817), an Irish lawyer, orator, and politician who served as Master of the Rolls in Ireland and was known for his defense of United Irishmen leaders in the 1798 rebellion trials. His contemporary, Sarah Curran (1782-1808), was an Irish diarist and the romantic interest of Robert Emmet, a leader of the 1803 Irish Rebellion.

Another notable figure was John Curran (1758-1818), an Irish-American merchant and politician who served as the second Governor of Arkansas Territory from 1819 to 1821. In the field of literature, Amelia Curran (1775-1847) was an Irish novelist and playwright known for her works set in Ireland during the 18th century.

While the surname Curran has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to Irish immigration. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Irish culture and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Curran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Curran 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. Lancashire leads with 668 Currans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 668 2.30x
Lanarkshire 323 4.08x
Durham 181 2.49x
Middlesex 148 0.60x
Yorkshire 146 0.60x
Midlothian 81 2.47x
Renfrewshire 79 4.17x
Kent 72 0.86x
Angus 69 3.04x
Surrey 61 0.51x
Cheshire 59 1.09x
Cumberland 55 2.61x
Northumberland 52 1.43x
Ayrshire 48 2.62x
Glamorgan 45 1.06x
Staffordshire 35 0.42x
Shropshire 31 1.47x
Hampshire 30 0.60x
Fife 26 1.80x
West Lothian 24 6.51x
Nottinghamshire 22 0.67x
Wigtownshire 22 6.77x
Selkirkshire 20 9.04x
Derbyshire 18 0.47x
Herefordshire 17 1.69x
Warwickshire 17 0.28x
Cornwall 14 0.51x
East Lothian 14 4.32x
Gloucestershire 14 0.29x
Kirkcudbrightshire 12 3.39x
Stirlingshire 10 1.11x
Buteshire 9 6.07x
Essex 9 0.19x
Radnorshire 8 4.05x
Roxburghshire 8 1.81x
Devon 7 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 7 1.06x
Monmouthshire 6 0.34x
Northamptonshire 5 0.22x
Royal Navy 5 1.72x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.18x
Worcestershire 4 0.13x
Berwickshire 3 1.01x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.56x
Kincardineshire 3 1.01x
Perthshire 3 0.27x
Berkshire 2 0.11x
Inverness-shire 2 0.27x
Anglesey 1 0.23x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.10x
Channel Islands 1 0.14x
Dorset 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.03x
Peeblesshire 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 176 Currans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.98x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 176 9.98x
Manchester 103 7.89x
Barony 89 4.44x
Govan 88 4.50x
Glasgow 61 4.34x
Toxteth Park 51 5.19x
Dundee 44 5.20x
Everton 44 4.76x
Witton Gilbert 32 111.38x
West Derby 31 3.65x
Kirkdale 29 5.94x
Edinburgh Canongate 27 32.37x
Bishopwearmouth 26 4.16x
East Greenock 26 14.52x
Liff Benvie 21 6.10x
Galashiels 20 24.44x
Nottingham St Mary 19 2.23x
West Calder 19 29.41x
West Greenock 19 5.58x
Ashton Under Lyne 18 2.84x
Kensington London 18 1.32x
Gateshead 17 3.12x
Wardleworth 17 10.25x
Birkenhead 16 3.72x
Lambeth 16 0.75x
Monk Hesleden 16 78.90x
Deptford St Nicholas 15 22.64x
Salford 15 1.76x
Bootle Cum Linacre 14 6.07x
Cheadle 14 13.57x
Manningham 14 4.69x
Portsea 14 1.42x
Swansea Town 14 4.01x
Caldewgate 13 11.26x
Cambusnethan 13 7.40x
Heworth 13 9.06x
Hulme 13 2.14x
King Moor 13 324.19x
Stockport 13 4.68x
Winlaton 13 18.62x
Aldershot 12 7.14x
Auchterderran 12 32.96x
Hamilton 12 5.44x
North Shields 12 16.52x
Portpatrick 12 110.19x
Sunderland 12 9.34x
Warrington 12 3.49x
Blackburn 11 1.42x
Bradford 11 1.87x
Harborne 11 4.16x
Kelton 11 37.81x
Muirkirk 11 25.58x
Poplar London 11 2.38x
Shoreditch London 11 1.04x
St Luke London 11 2.80x
Woolwich 11 3.57x
Aston 10 0.59x
Bermondsey 10 1.37x
Leeds 10 0.73x
Merthyr Tydfil 10 2.44x
Port Glasgow 10 10.91x
St Quivox 10 16.15x
Abbey 9 3.11x
Cardiff St Mary 9 3.84x
Linthorpe 9 6.22x
Liversedge 9 8.34x
Middlesbrough 9 2.85x
Neilston 9 9.46x
Old Monkland 9 2.87x
Oldham 9 0.96x
Ormiston 9 104.77x
Rickergate 9 20.19x
Rothesay 9 12.54x
St Martin In Fields 9 6.14x
Tarbolton 9 29.87x
Yarpole 9 178.22x
Bitterley 8 95.69x
Longbenton 8 5.19x
Rotherham 8 5.85x
St Pancras London 8 0.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 180
Elizabeth 57
Ellen 50
Sarah 50
Margaret 47
Catherine 38
Ann 37
Jane 25
Alice 23
Bridget 22
Annie 21
Julia 15
Kate 15
Emma 13
Eliza 11
Agnes 9
Hannah 9
Emily 8
Rose 8
Fanny 7
Matilda 7
Ada 5
Anne 5
Harriet 5
Harriett 5
Louisa 5
Margt. 5
Maria 5
Amelia 4
Barbara 4
Esther 4
Isabella 4
Katherine 4
Lilly 4
Martha 4
Teresa 4
Caroline 3
Catharine 3
Frances 3
Margret 3
Norah 3
Beatrice 2
Cathrine 2
Clara 2
Deborah 2
Dorothy 2
Elizth. 2
Eva 2
M. 2
Madge 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 157
James 110
Thomas 80
William 76
Patrick 47
Michael 33
Edward 24
Peter 22
Joseph 20
Francis 18
George 18
Robert 18
Charles 15
Henry 15
Alfred 13
Daniel 12
Wm. 9
Arthur 8
Frank 8
David 7
Hugh 7
Owen 7
Frederick 6
Martin 6
Richard 6
Albert 5
Edwin 5
Matthew 5
Alexander 4
Cornelius 4
Nicholas 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Andrew 3
Bernard 3
Denis 3
Dennis 3
Ernest 3
Jas. 3
Mathew 3
Edd. 2
Edmund 2
Francies 2
Job 2
Michel 2
Morris 2
P. 2
Patk. 2
Philip 2
Sidney 2

FAQ

Curran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Curran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,509 people were recorded with the Curran surname. That placed it at #1,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Curran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,230 in 2016. That gives Curran a modern rank of #707.

What does the Curran surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Corráin, meaning "descendant of Corrán," a personal name derived from corrán, meaning "sickle."

What does the Curran map show?

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