NameCensus.

UK surname

Curson

An archaic English surname derived from the Old French for "kite," likening the bearer as a shrewd or cunning person.

In the 1881 census there were 684 people recorded with the Curson surname, ranking it #5,279 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 794, ranked #6,962, down from #5,279 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes and Tuddenham, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Basingstoke and Deane and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Curson is 1,042 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.1%.

1881 census count

684

Ranked #5,279

Modern count

794

2016, ranked #6,962

Peak year

1911

1,042 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Curson had 684 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,279 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016, ranked #6,962.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,042 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Curson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Curson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Curson 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 527 #4,760
1861 historical 525 #4,992
1881 historical 684 #5,279
1891 historical 859 #4,770
1901 historical 917 #5,074
1911 historical 1,042 #4,408
1997 modern 817 #6,427
1998 modern 830 #6,561
1999 modern 836 #6,567
2000 modern 851 #6,446
2001 modern 827 #6,488
2002 modern 844 #6,496
2003 modern 806 #6,611
2004 modern 803 #6,652
2005 modern 783 #6,711
2006 modern 770 #6,844
2007 modern 787 #6,779
2008 modern 809 #6,681
2009 modern 814 #6,793
2010 modern 830 #6,824
2011 modern 820 #6,804
2012 modern 808 #6,784
2013 modern 804 #6,924
2014 modern 817 #6,861
2015 modern 799 #6,940
2016 modern 794 #6,962

Geography

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Where Cursons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes, Tuddenham, East, Hethersett and Tawton, South. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Basingstoke and Deane, South Norfolk, Central Bedfordshire and Chiltern. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Tuddenham, East Norfolk
4 Hethersett Norfolk
5 Tawton, South Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 007 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Basingstoke and Deane 014 Basingstoke and Deane
3 South Norfolk 001 South Norfolk
4 Central Bedfordshire 010 Central Bedfordshire
5 Chiltern 006 Chiltern

Forenames

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First names often paired with Curson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Curson

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Curson 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

Curson is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Curson 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 Curson 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 Curson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Curson

The surname CURSON has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "courson," which means a small or young horse. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with horses or stables.

One of the earliest recorded references to the CURSON name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William Curson. Another early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a John Courson is listed.

During the 14th century, the CURSON surname began appearing in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Suffolk. It is possible that the name may have originated from a place name or location, although no definitive records have been found to confirm this.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the CURSON surname was Sir John Curson (1502-1566), an English Member of Parliament and landowner from Hertfordshire. He served as Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1541 and was knighted by King Henry VIII.

Another prominent individual was Robert Curson (1577-1638), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Dean of Lichfield Cathedral and the Master of Balliol College, Oxford.

In the 17th century, Edmund Curson (1634-1698) was a notable English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Nottingham. He was also a member of the prestigious Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court in London.

During the 18th century, the CURSON name appeared in various records and documents, including parish registers and court records. One notable figure from this period was Samuel Curson (1722-1802), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Giles, Cripplegate in London.

In the 19th century, William Curson (1809-1892) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary and St. Giles in Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire.

Throughout its history, the CURSON surname has been associated with various professions, including law, the clergy, politics, and architecture. While the exact origins of the name remain uncertain, its longevity and persistence in English records suggest a rich and varied history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Curson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Curson 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. Norfolk leads with 383 Cursons recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.39x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 383 37.39x
Middlesex 58 0.87x
Devon 42 3.03x
Yorkshire 38 0.58x
Surrey 28 0.86x
Cambridgeshire 17 4.03x
Derbyshire 17 1.63x
Staffordshire 13 0.58x
Lancashire 12 0.15x
Suffolk 11 1.36x
Durham 9 0.45x
Kent 9 0.40x
Warwickshire 9 0.54x
Northumberland 8 0.81x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.56x
Cheshire 4 0.27x
Essex 4 0.30x
Lincolnshire 3 0.28x
Ayrshire 2 0.40x
Somerset 2 0.19x
Sussex 2 0.18x
Cumberland 1 0.17x
Dorset 1 0.23x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.68x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Lynn St Margaret in Norfolk leads with 34 Cursons recorded in 1881 and an index of 110.57x.

Place Total Index
Kings Lynn St Margaret 34 110.57x
Hethersett 25 965.25x
Little Ryburgh 23 5476.19x
East Tuddenham 21 2038.84x
Shipdham 16 459.77x
Holy Trinity 14 8.82x
Islington London 14 2.17x
Walsoken 14 227.27x
St Pancras London 13 2.42x
Heigham 12 21.83x
Stanhoe 11 1089.11x
Anmer 10 2631.58x
Hockering 10 1176.47x
South Tawton 10 349.65x
Hillington 9 1384.62x
Littleport 9 111.66x
South Lynn 9 77.85x
Spotland 9 10.24x
Binham 8 733.95x
Cringleford 8 1568.63x
Horningtoft 8 1632.65x
Modbury 8 225.99x
Stiffkey 8 808.08x
Stranton 8 11.99x
Weston Longville 8 851.06x
Great Ryburgh 7 443.04x
Hempton 7 538.46x
Hittisleigh 7 1320.75x
Ormesby 7 39.46x
Tixall 7 1346.15x
Battersea 6 2.45x
Coventry St Michael 6 11.12x
Crich 6 88.11x
Ermington 6 119.05x
Lambeth 6 1.03x
Lyng 6 521.74x
Mattishall 6 292.68x
Normanton 6 68.10x
Norwich St Clement 6 50.51x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 6 90.23x
Southrepps 6 303.03x
Beetley 5 641.03x
Camberwell 5 1.17x
Folkestone 5 11.34x
Plymouth Charles The 5 8.18x
Rotherhithe 5 6.07x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 2.10x
Swanton Novers 5 769.23x
Wighton 5 427.35x
Beccles 4 30.63x
Burnham Westgate 4 181.00x
Byker 4 8.16x
Congham 4 526.32x
Hackney London 4 1.07x
Hampstead London 4 3.86x
Hornsey 4 4.75x
Little Walsingham 4 172.41x
Middlesbrough 4 4.65x
Norwich St James 4 49.75x
Saxlingham 4 1250.00x
Stoke Newington London 4 7.71x
Thetford St Cuthbert 4 108.11x
Wisbech St Peter 4 18.90x
Beeston 3 29.07x
Brandon 3 54.45x
Congleton 3 11.81x
Derby St Alkmund 3 9.60x
Eston 3 20.86x
Flitcham Cum Appleton 3 280.37x
Gunthorpe 3 600.00x
Houghton In Hole 3 789.47x
Knettishall 3 1764.71x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 2.81x
Sculcoates 3 2.87x
Solihull 3 24.83x
South Skirlaugh 3 447.76x
St Andrewthe Great 3 54.95x
Walpole St Andrew 3 187.50x
Watton 3 93.17x
Shoreditch London 2 0.69x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 43
John 31
Robert 26
George 24
Thomas 22
Charles 16
Henry 14
James 14
Alfred 10
Samuel 10
Arthur 8
Walter 8
Ernest 7
Frederick 7
Joseph 7
Edward 6
Elijah 4
Philip 4
Richard 4
Alexander 3
Harry 3
Phillip 3
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Harrison 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Sidney 2
Simon 2
Tom 2
W. 2
Willie 2
Alexandra 1
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Bertie 1
Boaz 1
Bullen 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Henery 1
Jas. 1
Joh. 1
Johnathan 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Martin 1
Oliver 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Curson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Curson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 684 people were recorded with the Curson surname. That placed it at #5,279 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Curson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016. That gives Curson a modern rank of #6,962.

What does the Curson surname mean?

An archaic English surname derived from the Old French for "kite," likening the bearer as a shrewd or cunning person.

What does the Curson map show?

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