UK surname
An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Corráin meaning "descendant of Corrán".
In the 1881 census there were 113 people recorded with the Currans surname, ranking it #18,412 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #18,412 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kelton, New Monkland and Ayr Newton and St Quivox. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Currans is 188 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.5%.
1881 census count
113
Ranked #18,412
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1891
188 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Currans surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Currans surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 65 | #21,747 |
| 1861 | historical | 104 | #20,477 |
| 1881 | historical | 113 | #18,412 |
| 1891 | historical | 188 | #15,609 |
| 1901 | historical | 133 | #19,372 |
| 1911 | historical | 42 | #28,691 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 43 | #33,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 43 | #33,871 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 41 | #34,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 42 | #34,905 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 46 | #35,062 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 44 | #35,241 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kelton, New Monkland, Ayr Newton and St Quivox, London parishes and New or East Kilpatrick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelton | Kirkcudbright |
| 2 | New Monkland | Lanark |
| 3 | Ayr Newton and St Quivox | Ayr |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | New or East Kilpatrick | Dunbarton |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Currans surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Currans, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Currans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Currans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Currans is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Currans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Currans, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname CURRANS is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "currán," which means "marsh" or "small bog." The name likely originated in areas of Ireland where marshes or bogs were prevalent, such as in the counties of Cork, Kerry, and Limerick.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the CURRANS surname appears in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I, dating back to the late 16th century. These were official records of land grants and appointments made by the English crown in Ireland during this period.
In the 17th century, the CURRANS name can be found in various Irish records, including the Census of Ireland (1659) and the Hearth Money Rolls (1665-1666). These records provide valuable insights into the geographic distribution of the surname during this time.
A notable individual bearing the CURRANS surname was John Currans (1759-1828), an Irish-born American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. He was born in County Sligo, Ireland, and later emigrated to the United States.
Another prominent figure was James Currans (1824-1900), an Irish-American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Immaculate Conception Diocese in Kansas from 1887 until his death in 1900.
In the literary world, Sarah Anne Curran (1782-1808) was an Irish writer and diarist known for her romantic relationship with Robert Emmet, a leader of the Irish Rebellion of 1803. Her published letters and journals provide insights into the political and social climate of Ireland during that period.
The surname CURRANS has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Currans, a small village in County Kerry, and Curranstown, a townland in County Westmeath. These place names likely derived from the same Gaelic root as the surname, reflecting the historical presence of the CURRANS family in these areas.
While the CURRANS surname is not among the most common Irish surnames, it has a rich history dating back several centuries and has been carried by notable individuals across various fields, including politics, religion, and literature.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Currans surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Renfrewshire leads with 22 Currans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Renfrewshire | 22 | 25.76x |
| Dunbartonshire | 15 | 50.64x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 0.84x |
| Ayrshire | 10 | 12.12x |
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 2.81x |
| Wigtownshire | 10 | 68.31x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.64x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.64x |
| Stirlingshire | 5 | 12.30x |
| Angus | 4 | 3.92x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 4 | 25.06x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.53x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.54x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.68x |
| Selkirkshire | 1 | 10.03x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.19x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 6.02x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. New Kilpatrick in Dunbartonshire leads with 15 Currans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 531.91x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| New Kilpatrick | 15 | 531.91x |
| Neilston | 10 | 233.10x |
| Whithorn | 9 | 803.57x |
| Abbey | 6 | 46.05x |
| Govan | 6 | 6.81x |
| Honley | 6 | 314.14x |
| Bradford | 5 | 81.70x |
| Port Glasgow | 5 | 121.07x |
| Dunipace | 4 | 563.38x |
| Monkton Prestwick | 4 | 500.00x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 3 | 10.49x |
| Cambuslang | 3 | 83.57x |
| Liff Benvie | 3 | 19.35x |
| St George Hanover Square | 3 | 15.45x |
| Ayr | 2 | 51.41x |
| Beith | 2 | 81.30x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 3.24x |
| Kilbirnie | 2 | 101.01x |
| Oldham | 2 | 4.74x |
| Troqueer | 2 | 95.69x |
| Urr | 2 | 96.15x |
| Walsall Foreign | 2 | 10.41x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 14.40x |
| Bothwell | 1 | 10.34x |
| Dalkeith | 1 | 34.36x |
| Dundee | 1 | 2.62x |
| Galashiels | 1 | 27.10x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.63x |
| Kirkinner | 1 | 166.67x |
| Linlithgow | 1 | 46.95x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.26x |
| Mortlake | 1 | 41.84x |
| Paisley Middle Church | 1 | 20.12x |
| Slamannan | 1 | 44.84x |
| St Martin In Fields | 1 | 15.15x |
| Wakefield | 1 | 11.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Currans surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Currans surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Currans households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Caerdroom Hand | 2 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Drapers Asst | 2 |
| Barristers Clerk | 1 |
| Buckle Finisher | 1 |
| C Weaver | 1 |
| Cloth Finisher | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Fur Sewer | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Machinist (Cotton Goods) (Sewing) | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Out Of Employment | 1 |
| Stone Delver (Quarrie) | 1 |
| Winder (Woollen) | 1 |
| Woollen Feeder | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 113 people were recorded with the Currans surname. That placed it at #18,412 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Currans a modern rank of #35,004.
An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Corráin meaning "descendant of Corrán".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Currans bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.