UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the name of a village near Limekilns, Scotland.
In the 1881 census there were 217 people recorded with the Curtice surname, ranking it #12,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #12,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Curtice is 244 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.4%.
1881 census count
217
Ranked #12,188
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1851
244 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Curtice surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Curtice surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 244 | #8,950 |
| 1861 | historical | 140 | #16,169 |
| 1881 | historical | 217 | #12,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 178 | #16,264 |
| 1901 | historical | 156 | #17,638 |
| 1911 | historical | 145 | #18,255 |
| 1997 | modern | 48 | #32,878 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 45 | #33,511 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 47 | #33,548 |
| 2003 | modern | 48 | #33,533 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 40 | #34,562 |
| 2006 | modern | 38 | #35,003 |
| 2007 | modern | 40 | #35,037 |
| 2008 | modern | 39 | #35,191 |
| 2009 | modern | 38 | #35,380 |
| 2010 | modern | 39 | #35,451 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 36 | #35,654 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Breage and Shebbear. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) | Devon |
| 3 | Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton | Devon |
| 4 | Breage | Cornwall |
| 5 | Shebbear | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Curtice surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Curtice, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Curtice surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Curtice household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Curtice is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Curtice is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Curtice, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Curtice is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "courteis," meaning courteous or well-mannered. This word later evolved into the Middle English "curteis" and was used as a descriptive surname for someone with courtly or polite manners.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Curtice can be found in various English records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a person named John le Curteys. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, referencing a certain Thomas Curtes.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname Curtice was often spelled in various ways, such as Curteys, Curtays, Curtes, and Curteys. These spellings reflect the evolution of the name and the regional variations in pronunciation and orthography.
In terms of historical figures, one of the earliest known individuals with the surname Curtice was Sir John Curteis (c. 1285-1349), a prominent English knight and landowner from Lincolnshire. He served as a Member of Parliament and took part in the Wars of Scottish Independence under King Edward III.
Another notable bearer of the name was William Curteys (c. 1390-1456), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He was involved in the trade of wool and other goods, and his name appears in various commercial records from the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the surname Curtice was also associated with the Curteys family of Somersetshire. This family held the manor of Lytes Cary, and several members served as Members of Parliament and held prominent positions in the local government.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Curtice was Sir William Courteys (c. 1520-1596), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He was a prominent member of the Society of Merchant Venturers and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1581. Sir William Courteys was known for his charitable works and was a benefactor of several educational institutions in the city.
Another well-known figure was Thomas Curteis (c. 1635-1694), an English clergyman and author. He served as the Rector of Sevenoaks in Kent and published several theological works, including "The Rules of Civility" and "The Whole Duty of Man."
While the surname Curtice has evolved over time and has been subject to various spellings, it has maintained its roots in the Old French word "courteis," reflecting the courteous and well-mannered qualities associated with its earliest bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Curtice surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 108 Curtices recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 108 | 24.86x |
| Middlesex | 34 | 1.63x |
| Gloucestershire | 12 | 2.93x |
| Northumberland | 12 | 3.86x |
| Cornwall | 10 | 4.23x |
| Somerset | 7 | 2.08x |
| Wiltshire | 7 | 3.79x |
| Durham | 5 | 0.81x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.49x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 0.93x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.12x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 1.58x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.49x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 0.55x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shebbear in Devon leads with 22 Curtices recorded in 1881 and an index of 3384.62x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Curtice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 22 |
| Elizabeth | 15 |
| Ann | 6 |
| Grace | 5 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Charlotte | 3 |
| Frances | 3 |
| Susan | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Charlott | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Jennetta | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Alma | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Bessie | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Bridget | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Cordelia | 1 |
| Dinah | 1 |
| Ela | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emely | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Janie | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Marion | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Sally | 1 |
| Sarahann | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Curtice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Curtice households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 40 |
| Ag Lab | 10 |
| Farm Labourer | 4 |
| Labourer | 4 |
| Dressmaker | 3 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 3 |
| Farmers Son | 3 |
| Gardener | 3 |
| Labourers Wife | 3 |
| Laundress | 3 |
| Ag Labourer | 2 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Farmers Daur | 2 |
| General Serv | 2 |
| Glover | 2 |
| Labourer At Coke Ovens | 2 |
| Office Boy | 2 |
| Pupil Teacher | 2 |
| Servant | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Auctioneers Clerk | 1 |
| Bookseller | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| County Constable | 1 |
| Domestic Housemaid | 1 |
| Excavator | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoors) | 1 |
| Farm Serv Indoors | 1 |
| Farmer 200 Acres Employing (2 Men) | 1 |
| Farmer Of 165 Acres Employing 2 Labourers And 1 Boy | 1 |
| Farmer Of 6 Acres | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Gardener Wife | 1 |
| Gloveress | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocer Wife | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Hind (F Bailiff) | 1 |
| Ho Maid | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Ironmonger | 1 |
| Joiner Labourer | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Laborer Ag Unemployed | 1 |
| Labourer (Farm) | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 217 people were recorded with the Curtice surname. That placed it at #12,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Curtice a modern rank of #35,648.
A Scottish surname derived from the name of a village near Limekilns, Scotland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Curtice bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.