NameCensus.

UK surname

Currey

An occupational surname for a currier, one who dresses and colors leather after it is tanned.

In the 1881 census there were 614 people recorded with the Currey surname, ranking it #5,725 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 590, ranked #8,842, down from #5,725 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Hitcham, Brettenham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Forest of Dean and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Currey is 750 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.9%.

1881 census count

614

Ranked #5,725

Modern count

590

2016, ranked #8,842

Peak year

1911

750 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Currey had 614 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,725 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 590 in 2016, ranked #8,842.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 750 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Currey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Currey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Currey 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 598 #4,284
1861 historical 552 #4,768
1881 historical 614 #5,725
1891 historical 612 #6,284
1901 historical 626 #6,839
1911 historical 750 #5,740
1997 modern 591 #8,235
1998 modern 602 #8,376
1999 modern 603 #8,419
2000 modern 622 #8,216
2001 modern 609 #8,208
2002 modern 609 #8,368
2003 modern 591 #8,428
2004 modern 591 #8,442
2005 modern 581 #8,461
2006 modern 581 #8,485
2007 modern 578 #8,595
2008 modern 570 #8,734
2009 modern 595 #8,649
2010 modern 608 #8,700
2011 modern 591 #8,793
2012 modern 592 #8,696
2013 modern 587 #8,876
2014 modern 591 #8,913
2015 modern 579 #8,964
2016 modern 590 #8,842

Geography

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Where Curreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Hitcham, Brettenham, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Forest of Dean, North East Derbyshire, Blackpool and Teignbridge. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Hitcham, Brettenham Suffolk
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 009 Chichester
2 Forest of Dean 010 Forest of Dean
3 North East Derbyshire 008 North East Derbyshire
4 Blackpool 012 Blackpool
5 Teignbridge 010 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Currey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Currey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Currey, 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 Currey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Currey 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, Currey 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

Currey is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Currey falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Currey 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 Currey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Currey

The surname Currey originated in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "curee," which means "to prepare" or "to cure." The name likely referred to a tradesman who prepared or cured meat, leather, or other goods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Currey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a William le Curey. The Hundred Rolls were a survey of landowners and their holdings conducted during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Currey, Curry, and Currie. These spellings were influenced by regional dialects and the phonetic interpretation of the name by scribes and record-keepers.

The Currey surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Currey Rivell in Somerset and Currie in Midlothian, Scotland. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Currey surname. One of the earliest was Sir John Currey (c. 1330-1415), an English nobleman who served as a Knight of the Shire for Northamptonshire in the Parliament of 1388.

Another prominent figure was George Currey (1575-1647), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Chichester from 1628 until his death. He was a staunch supporter of the Church of England during the tumultuous period of the English Civil War.

In the field of literature, Thomas Currey (1811-1888) was a notable English bookseller and publisher. He was responsible for publishing works by renowned authors such as Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray.

Sir Frederick Currie (1799-1875) was a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent administrator in the British East India Company.

Finally, Edwina Currie (born 1946) is a British politician and author. She served as a Member of Parliament for South Derbyshire from 1983 to 1997 and held various ministerial positions in the government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Currey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Currey 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. Durham leads with 130 Curreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.27x.

County Total Index
Durham 130 7.27x
Middlesex 92 1.53x
Northumberland 50 5.59x
Yorkshire 50 0.84x
Lancashire 48 0.67x
Surrey 29 0.99x
Kent 27 1.32x
Suffolk 21 2.87x
Derbyshire 20 2.13x
Norfolk 17 1.84x
Essex 16 1.35x
Devon 14 1.12x
Lincolnshire 14 1.46x
Cambridgeshire 12 3.15x
Hertfordshire 11 2.66x
Hampshire 7 0.57x
Lanarkshire 7 0.36x
Warwickshire 7 0.46x
Sussex 6 0.59x
Leicestershire 5 0.75x
Pembrokeshire 5 2.62x
Cumberland 4 0.77x
Northamptonshire 3 0.53x
Staffordshire 3 0.15x
Cheshire 2 0.15x
Merionethshire 2 1.82x
Midlothian 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 2.79x
Westmorland 2 1.51x
Banffshire 1 0.80x
Berkshire 1 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.28x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.23x
Oxfordshire 1 0.27x
Shropshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanhope in Durham leads with 64 Curreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 346.70x.

Place Total Index
Stanhope 64 346.70x
Brettenham 18 2769.23x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 18 33.71x
Islington London 14 2.40x
Hitchin 10 53.48x
Little Eaton 10 512.82x
Prudhoe 10 160.77x
Luddington 9 731.71x
West Derby 9 4.31x
Whitechapel London 9 15.20x
Egham 8 44.49x
Sherburn 8 163.60x
St Pancras London 8 1.65x
West Ham 8 3.05x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.68x
Birmingham 7 1.39x
Borrowby In 7 1060.61x
Eldon 7 247.35x
Framwellgate 7 66.10x
Govan 7 1.46x
Hackney London 7 2.08x
Kensington London 7 2.10x
Lewisham 7 6.40x
Pendleton In Salford 7 8.24x
Portsea 7 2.90x
St George Hanover Square 7 6.61x
Battersea 6 2.71x
Bishopwearmouth 6 3.91x
Braintree 6 56.34x
Brightside Bierlow 6 5.14x
Conside Knitsley 6 43.17x
Leeds 6 1.78x
Watton 6 206.90x
Derby St Werburgh 5 9.20x
Feltwell 5 279.33x
Great Lever 5 66.05x
Greenwich 5 5.23x
Healey 5 2272.73x
Heworth 5 14.19x
Kenton 5 126.58x
Leicester St Margaret 5 3.08x
Rudbaxton 5 467.29x
St Andrewthe Less 5 11.50x
St Giles In Fields London 5 16.96x
St Marylebone London 5 1.56x
Wakefield 5 10.94x
Warrington 5 5.92x
Weybridge 5 79.62x
Bishop Auckland 4 16.68x
Bradford 4 11.98x
Brandon Byshottles 4 17.86x
Brimington 4 56.02x
Camberwell 4 1.04x
Chirton 4 19.77x
Great Grimsby 4 6.56x
Hampstead London 4 4.27x
Liverpool 4 0.92x
March 4 31.40x
Milton In Gravesend 4 13.01x
Saddleworth 4 8.71x
Shoreditch London 4 1.54x
South Malling 4 266.67x
Strood 4 34.19x
Whitworth 4 30.56x
Wolsingham 4 24.55x
Woolwich 4 5.28x
Batley 3 5.30x
Benfieldside 3 25.51x
Coundon 3 41.38x
Dawlish 3 32.15x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 3 18.07x
Falsgrave 3 34.21x
Garston 3 14.26x
Gateshead 3 2.24x
Harrington 3 48.08x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 3 10.81x
Paddington London 3 1.36x
Sidbury 3 111.94x
Tynemouth 3 6.27x
Wolverhampton 3 1.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 27
Sarah 16
Annie 15
Ann 14
Jane 13
Emma 9
Ellen 8
Caroline 7
Isabella 7
Margaret 7
Eliza 6
Alice 5
Catherine 5
Hannah 5
Emily 4
Harriett 4
Lucy 4
Maria 4
Frances 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Margret 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Eliz. 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Helen 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Martha 2
Miriam 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Selina 2
Susannah 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Barbara 1
Betsy 1
Blanch 1
Bridgit 1
Elizh.A. 1
Elle 1
Infant 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
William 43
Henry 25
George 18
James 18
Thomas 17
Joseph 14
Robert 12
Walter 10
Charles 9
Edward 7
Alfred 6
Frederick 6
Albert 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Hodgson 2
Michael 2
Patrick 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Reginald 2
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Cecil 1
Christopher 1
Chust. 1
Clemitson 1
Emerson 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Goerge 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Job 1
Jonathon 1
Launcelot 1
Laurance 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Percival 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Currey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Currey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 614 people were recorded with the Currey surname. That placed it at #5,725 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Currey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 590 in 2016. That gives Currey a modern rank of #8,842.

What does the Currey surname mean?

An occupational surname for a currier, one who dresses and colors leather after it is tanned.

What does the Currey map show?

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