NameCensus.

UK surname

Curtain

A surname derived from the word referring to a hanging cloth for covering windows or doorways.

In the 1881 census there were 166 people recorded with the Curtain surname, ranking it #14,496 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, down from #14,496 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Darlington, Wealden and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Curtain is 166 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.9%.

1881 census count

166

Ranked #14,496

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

1881

166 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Curtain had 166 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,496 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 166 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Curtain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Curtain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Curtain 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 97 #17,484
1861 historical 109 #19,693
1881 historical 166 #14,496
1891 historical 141 #19,108
1901 historical 139 #18,876
1911 historical 103 #22,328
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 130 #23,603
1999 modern 128 #24,017
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 113 #25,489
2002 modern 126 #24,393
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 128 #24,076
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 132 #24,476
2009 modern 137 #24,371
2010 modern 137 #24,907
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 128 #25,852
2013 modern 133 #25,655
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Curtains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford, St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Darlington, Wealden, Cardiff and Manchester. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset
3 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
4 St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn London (Central Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Darlington 006 Darlington
2 Wealden 010 Wealden
3 Cardiff 010 Cardiff
4 Manchester 023 Manchester
5 Wealden 005 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Curtain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Curtain

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Curtain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Curtain 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Curtain is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Curtain is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Curtain falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Curtain

The surname Curtain is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "courtine," meaning a curtain or a short length of fortification wall between two bastions or towers. This name likely originated among those who lived near such fortifications or worked as curtain makers or sellers.

In the early medieval period, the name appeared in various forms, such as Curteyn, Curten, and Curtayne, reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a William Curteyn.

The Curtain surname is also associated with place names, such as Curtain Hill in Berkshire, England, and Curtain Close in York, where the name may have originated from those locations or occupations related to curtain-making or living near fortified walls.

Notable individuals with the surname Curtain include:

1. John Curtain (c. 1599-1670), an English Jesuit priest and missionary who worked in Maryland, USA. 2. William Curtain (c. 1670-1735), an English playwright and poet, best known for his play "The Husband's Revenge." 3. Jeremiah Curtain (1738-1794), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Kentucky. 4. Thomas Curtain (1808-1888), an Irish-born Australian politician and Premier of Western Australia from 1876 to 1878. 5. Kathleen Curtain (1888-1962), an Australian novelist and short story writer, known for her works depicting life in rural Australia.

While the Curtain surname is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history stretching back to medieval times, with connections to fortifications, occupations, and various locations across England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Curtain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Curtain 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. Middlesex leads with 42 Curtains recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.58x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 42 2.58x
Somerset 26 9.92x
Kent 20 3.60x
Yorkshire 16 0.99x
Surrey 11 1.39x
Gloucestershire 8 2.50x
Lancashire 8 0.41x
Cheshire 5 1.39x
Devon 5 1.47x
Northamptonshire 5 3.26x
Glamorgan 4 1.41x
Hampshire 3 0.90x
Oxfordshire 3 2.98x
Bedfordshire 1 1.19x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.02x
Channel Islands 1 2.07x
Essex 1 0.31x
Hertfordshire 1 0.89x
Leicestershire 1 0.55x
Monmouthshire 1 0.85x
Royal Navy 1 5.15x
Staffordshire 1 0.18x
Wiltshire 1 0.69x
Worcestershire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 18 Curtains recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.99x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 18 41.99x
St Andrew Holborn London 10 141.84x
Stoke Lane 9 2368.42x
Laverton 7 10000.00x
Brightside Bierlow 6 18.95x
Bethnal Green London 5 7.07x
Bollington In 5 156.25x
Bramley In Bramley 5 80.91x
Horfield 5 155.28x
St Marylebone London 5 5.75x
Northampton Priory St 4 43.53x
Rotherham 4 43.96x
St Andrew Holborn 4 72.46x
Stoke Damerel 4 16.86x
Bermondsey 3 6.19x
Emborough 3 3000.00x
North Meols 3 15.86x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 3 600.00x
Paddington London 3 5.01x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 6.65x
Camberwell 2 1.92x
Chelsea London 2 4.07x
Chilcompton 2 555.56x
Coyty Lower 2 108.70x
Islington London 2 1.27x
Midsomer Norton 2 80.97x
St Bartholomew Hyde 2 250.00x
Wigan 2 7.40x
Barkby 1 285.71x
Battersea 1 1.67x
Biddlesdon 1 1428.57x
Bristol St Paul In 1 11.75x
Butcombe 1 1000.00x
Caterham 1 28.49x
Chepstow 1 49.75x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.60x
Ealing 1 6.87x
Exeter St David 1 34.48x
Greenwich 1 3.86x
Hammersmith London 1 2.49x
Hardwick 1 1428.57x
Hulme 1 2.48x
Isleworth 1 13.81x
Kidderminster Borough 1 8.03x
Lambeth 1 0.70x
Lee 1 12.39x
Leeds 1 1.10x
Liverpool 1 0.85x
Mile End New Town London 1 31.06x
Norton St Philip 1 344.83x
Norwood 1 26.88x
Preston 1 1.93x
Pylle 1 666.67x
Roath 1 7.76x
Rotherhithe 1 4.97x
Royal Navy 1 6.03x
Shadwell London 1 21.93x
Southwark Christchurch 1 13.11x
St Anne 1 116.28x
St Anne Soho London 1 10.75x
St Mary Extra 1 37.17x
St Pancras London 1 0.76x
Stoke 1 26.67x
Swansea St Thomas 1 35.09x
Swindon 1 8.95x
Theydon Bois 1 204.08x
Turvey 1 188.68x
Watford 1 11.48x
Westminster St James 1 5.97x
Westminster St Margaret 1 12.72x
Whittington 1 89.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 13
Thomas 7
James 6
Daniel 4
George 3
Michael 3
Patrick 3
Andrew 2
Bartholomew 2
Charles 2
David 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Jeremiah 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Alice 1
Bailly 1
Cornelius 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Kilfrew 1
R. 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Curtain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Curtain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 166 people were recorded with the Curtain surname. That placed it at #14,496 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Curtain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Curtain a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Curtain surname mean?

A surname derived from the word referring to a hanging cloth for covering windows or doorways.

What does the Curtain map show?

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