NameCensus.

UK surname

Curren

An Anglicized phonetic variation of the French surname Courrenc.

In the 1881 census there were 241 people recorded with the Curren surname, ranking it #11,374 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 195, ranked #19,921, down from #11,374 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Skye South, Bolton and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Curren is 244 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.1%.

1881 census count

241

Ranked #11,374

Modern count

195

2016, ranked #19,921

Peak year

1861

244 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Curren had 241 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,374 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016, ranked #19,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 244 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Curren surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Curren surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Curren 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 244 #10,087
1881 historical 241 #11,374
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 240 #13,461
1911 historical 175 #16,246
1997 modern 229 #16,168
1998 modern 224 #16,888
1999 modern 212 #17,611
2000 modern 214 #17,457
2001 modern 208 #17,513
2002 modern 205 #18,009
2003 modern 198 #18,252
2004 modern 202 #18,110
2005 modern 193 #18,572
2006 modern 195 #18,564
2007 modern 196 #18,737
2008 modern 190 #19,246
2009 modern 195 #19,329
2010 modern 205 #19,140
2011 modern 193 #19,729
2012 modern 190 #19,864
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 190 #20,374
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 195 #19,921

Geography

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Where Currens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Manchester and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Skye South, Bolton, Manchester and Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Skye South Highland
2 Bolton 012 Bolton
3 Manchester 050 Manchester
4 Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall East Renfrewshire
5 Manchester 053 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Curren

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Curren

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Curren surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Curren household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Curren 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

Curren is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Curren 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 Curren is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Curren

The surname Curren is believed to have originated in Scotland, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "curran," meaning "little cairn" or "small heap of stones," often used to mark boundaries or burial sites.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Curren surname can be found in the parish records of Ayrshire, Scotland, in the late 1500s. It is thought that the name may have initially referred to individuals who lived near such cairns or worked as stone masons, responsible for constructing these markers.

The Curren surname is also closely associated with the Clan Currie, a Scottish clan hailing from the Western Isles and the Hebrides. The Curren spelling is considered a variant of the more common Currie surname, both sharing the same origins.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the Curren name was John Curren, a Scottish minister and theologian born in 1620. He was known for his writings on Presbyterian doctrine and served as a minister in several parishes throughout Scotland.

Another historical reference to the Curren surname can be found in the records of the Darien Scheme, an ill-fated colonial expedition launched by the Kingdom of Scotland in the late 1690s. Among the settlers who traveled to the Darien region of Panama was a man named Robert Curren, whose fate remains unknown after the colony's eventual abandonment.

During the 18th century, the Curren surname began to spread beyond Scotland, with individuals bearing the name migrating to various parts of the British Empire, including North America and the Caribbean. One such figure was William Curren, a merchant and plantation owner born in Scotland in 1725, who later settled in Jamaica.

In the 19th century, the Curren name gained further prominence with the birth of Jane Curren Philpott in 1853. She was a renowned American educator and advocate for women's rights, who played a significant role in establishing the first public high school for girls in West Virginia.

Another notable Curren from this era was John Curren, an Irish-born Australian politician and pastoralist. Born in 1837, he served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was a prominent figure in the development of the wool industry in Australia.

As the Curren surname continued to spread across the globe, it has been borne by various individuals in different fields, including literature, sports, and entertainment. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its Scottish roots and connection to the Gaelic word "curran" remain an integral part of its rich history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Curren families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Curren 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 73 Currens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.60x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 73 2.60x
Lanarkshire 52 6.78x
Durham 35 4.96x
Yorkshire 21 0.89x
Ayrshire 17 9.58x
Cheshire 9 1.72x
Middlesex 9 0.38x
Cumberland 6 2.94x
Midlothian 5 1.57x
Renfrewshire 2 1.09x
Royal Navy 2 7.08x
Staffordshire 2 0.25x
Stirlingshire 2 2.29x
Angus 1 0.46x
Derbyshire 1 0.27x
Devon 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Kent 1 0.12x
Northumberland 1 0.28x
Surrey 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.25x

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 19 Currens recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.12x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 19 11.12x
Barony 18 9.28x
New Monkland 17 75.02x
Stretford 11 71.06x
Dalmellington 9 172.41x
Horwich 9 293.16x
Salford 9 10.88x
Bishopwearmouth 8 13.22x
Blantyre 7 87.72x
Crossgate 7 227.27x
Glasgow 7 5.14x
Manchester 7 5.53x
Kimberworth 6 46.01x
Birkenhead 5 11.99x
Catterick 5 943.40x
Cleator 5 58.89x
Kilmarnock 5 23.69x
Rastrick 5 76.69x
Witton Gilbert 5 179.86x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 17.91x
Great Bolton 4 10.74x
Mid Calder 4 289.86x
Sunderland 4 32.13x
Droylsden 3 32.68x
Horton In Bradford 3 8.18x
St Bartholomew Great 3 138.89x
Stranton 3 12.64x
Tranmere 3 15.60x
Ardrossan 2 32.57x
Falkirk 2 9.77x
Govan 2 1.05x
Kensington London 2 1.52x
Monk Hesleden 2 101.52x
Royal Navy 2 8.28x
Thornley 2 78.43x
Aldershot 1 6.14x
Auckinleck 1 18.21x
Blackburn 1 1.34x
Bothwell 1 4.81x
Castle Northwich 1 57.80x
Cathcart 1 10.06x
Chirton 1 12.53x
Darlington 1 3.67x
Dundee 1 1.22x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.78x
Everton 1 1.12x
Framwellgate 1 23.92x
Gressingham 1 833.33x
Hammersmith London 1 1.71x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.27x
Heysham 1 196.08x
Holme St Cuthbert 1 163.93x
Hulme 1 1.70x
Kirkdale 1 2.11x
Lambeth 1 0.48x
Lewes St John Southover 1 37.31x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.98x
North Meols 1 3.63x
Port Glasgow 1 11.26x
St Bartholomew Less 1 81.97x
St Marylebone London 1 0.79x
Staveley 1 15.17x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.18x
Stonehouse East 1 40.00x
Tanfield 1 11.92x
Thornaby 1 11.39x
Wolstanton Ranscliffe 1 357.14x
Wombwell 1 14.60x
Woolwich 1 3.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Catherine 7
Margaret 7
Sarah 7
Ann 4
Bridget 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Annie 2
Betsy 2
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Lucy 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
James 11
Joseph 6
Patrick 6
Thomas 5
Edward 4
William 4
Charles 3
George 3
Peter 3
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Samuel 2
Alexand 1
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Bradley 1
David 1
Farrel 1
Frederick 1
Hugh 1
Michael 1
Micheal 1
Patric 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Curren surname: questions and answers

How common was the Curren surname in 1881?

In 1881, 241 people were recorded with the Curren surname. That placed it at #11,374 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Curren surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016. That gives Curren a modern rank of #19,921.

What does the Curren surname mean?

An Anglicized phonetic variation of the French surname Courrenc.

What does the Curren map show?

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