NameCensus.

UK surname

Currier

An occupational surname for one who curries (dresses or prepares) leather or works as a currier.

In the 1881 census there were 225 people recorded with the Currier surname, ranking it #11,931 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 432, ranked #11,135, up from #11,931 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alcester, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Dawley, Magna. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Runnymede, Spelthorne and Telford and Wrekin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Currier is 479 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.0%.

1881 census count

225

Ranked #11,931

Modern count

432

2016, ranked #11,135

Peak year

2010

479 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Currier had 225 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,931 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016, ranked #11,135.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 300 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Currier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Currier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Currier 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 145 #13,223
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 225 #11,931
1891 historical 287 #11,473
1901 historical 272 #12,440
1911 historical 300 #11,441
1997 modern 399 #11,028
1998 modern 432 #10,737
1999 modern 430 #10,855
2000 modern 447 #10,497
2001 modern 438 #10,462
2002 modern 439 #10,656
2003 modern 427 #10,720
2004 modern 436 #10,581
2005 modern 428 #10,619
2006 modern 449 #10,255
2007 modern 444 #10,445
2008 modern 452 #10,369
2009 modern 469 #10,344
2010 modern 479 #10,370
2011 modern 462 #10,570
2012 modern 452 #10,619
2013 modern 453 #10,774
2014 modern 451 #10,882
2015 modern 446 #10,898
2016 modern 432 #11,135

Geography

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Where Curriers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alcester, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Dawley, Magna and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Runnymede, Spelthorne, Telford and Wrekin and Amber Valley. 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 Alcester Warwickshire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Runnymede 004 Runnymede
2 Spelthorne 004 Spelthorne
3 Telford and Wrekin 006 Telford and Wrekin
4 Telford and Wrekin 019 Telford and Wrekin
5 Amber Valley 012 Amber Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Currier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Currier

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Currier, 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 Currier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Currier 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Currier 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

Currier is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Currier falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Currier is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Currier

The surname Currier has its origins in medieval England, deriving from the Old French word "corier," which referred to a skilled leather worker or tanner. This occupational surname emerged during the 11th century, when the practice of adopting hereditary surnames began to spread across Europe.

The earliest documented instances of the Currier surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and populations undertaken by William the Conqueror. This record includes several references to individuals bearing variations of the name, such as William le Currier in Lincolnshire and Robert le Curier in Oxfordshire.

As the name suggests, many early Curriers were involved in the leather trade, working as tanners, dyers, or makers of various leather goods. The demand for their skilled labor was particularly high in medieval towns and cities, where the production of clothing, shoes, saddles, and other leather items played a vital role in the local economy.

One notable figure from the 13th century was Simon le Currier, a prominent citizen of London who served as a member of the city's governing council in the 1270s. Another early example is John Currier, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Norfolk, who was born around 1320 and left a considerable estate upon his death in 1389.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Currier surname continued to gain prominence, with several individuals leaving their mark on English history. Robert Currier (1544-1612) was a respected clergyman who served as the Dean of Chichester Cathedral, while Captain John Currier (1598-1672) was a prominent military figure who fought in the English Civil War.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the name spread beyond England's borders as members of the Currier family ventured to the Americas and other parts of the British Empire. Notably, Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) was a renowned American lithographer who co-founded the renowned publishing firm Currier & Ives, renowned for their iconic American lithographs and prints.

Throughout its long history, the Currier surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from skilled artisans and tradespeople to successful entrepreneurs, clergymen, and military figures. While its origins can be traced back to the leather trade of medieval England, the name has since spread worldwide, carried by generations of individuals with diverse backgrounds and achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Currier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Currier 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. Warwickshire leads with 45 Curriers recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.13x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 45 8.13x
Surrey 43 4.02x
Middlesex 36 1.64x
Shropshire 31 16.35x
Yorkshire 23 1.06x
Essex 10 2.31x
Lancashire 8 0.31x
Midlothian 6 2.04x
Hampshire 5 1.11x
Kent 4 0.53x
Worcestershire 4 1.40x
Fife 3 2.31x
Staffordshire 2 0.27x
Berkshire 1 0.61x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.75x
Derbyshire 1 0.29x
Devon 1 0.22x
Lincolnshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 29 Curriers recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.03x.

Place Total Index
Aston 29 19.03x
Bermondsey 15 22.96x
Wellington 11 103.19x
Alcester 9 491.80x
Brightside Bierlow 9 21.10x
Kensington London 9 7.38x
Chelsea London 8 12.10x
Colchester St Leonard 8 575.54x
Shifnal 8 155.34x
Sutton 8 103.36x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 121.74x
Thorpe 7 1489.36x
Everton 6 7.23x
Shalford 6 508.47x
Hammersmith London 5 9.25x
Huddersfield 5 15.78x
Madeley 5 71.94x
Godalming 4 59.44x
Islington London 4 1.88x
Kings Norton 4 15.56x
Minster In Sheppey 4 32.23x
Snitterfield 4 655.74x
Wombridge 4 170.94x
Auchtermuchty 3 171.43x
Egham 3 45.66x
Lasswade 3 44.64x
Southampton St Mary 3 10.60x
St Marylebone London 3 2.56x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 9.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.69x
Handsworth 2 10.95x
St Bartholomew Hyde 2 185.19x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 2 64.31x
St Pancras London 2 1.13x
Wrockwardine 2 47.96x
Acton 1 7.77x
Barking 1 7.89x
Barnstaple 1 13.95x
Birmingham 1 0.54x
Dawley 1 14.49x
East Ham 1 12.44x
Edinburgh New 1 43.86x
Heston 1 13.72x
Leamington Priors 1 7.34x
Middleton 1 285.71x
Owston 1 100.00x
Pleasley 1 114.94x
Prestwich 1 15.38x
Westminster St James 1 4.43x
Widnes 1 5.32x
Wokingham 1 26.60x
Wycombe 1 10.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 7
Eliza 5
Alice 4
Caroline 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Ada 3
Lucy 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Agnes 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Ella 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
James 1
Jemmia 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Magdalena 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Matty 1
Minnie 1
Minor 1
Moirain 1
Rebecca 1
Sabina 1
Sophia 1
Sussanah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 10
John 10
William 9
Charles 7
Henry 7
James 7
Francis 4
Joseph 4
Samuel 4
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
Frances 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
H.A. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Joel 1
Louis 1
Moses 1
W.Thomas 1
Will 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Currier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Currier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 225 people were recorded with the Currier surname. That placed it at #11,931 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Currier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016. That gives Currier a modern rank of #11,135.

What does the Currier surname mean?

An occupational surname for one who curries (dresses or prepares) leather or works as a currier.

What does the Currier map show?

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