NameCensus.

UK surname

Curwen

A surname derived from a place name associated with Cornwall, England.

In the 1881 census there were 632 people recorded with the Curwen surname, ranking it #5,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,049, ranked #5,555, up from #5,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, St Bees and Poulton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland and Wyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Curwen is 1,110 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.0%.

1881 census count

632

Ranked #5,612

Modern count

1,049

2016, ranked #5,555

Peak year

2010

1,110 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Curwen had 632 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,049 in 2016, ranked #5,555.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 928 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Curwen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Curwen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Curwen 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 312 #7,397
1861 historical 352 #7,258
1881 historical 632 #5,612
1891 historical 707 #5,553
1901 historical 872 #5,256
1911 historical 928 #4,836
1997 modern 1,048 #5,278
1998 modern 1,090 #5,301
1999 modern 1,084 #5,349
2000 modern 1,097 #5,279
2001 modern 1,049 #5,371
2002 modern 1,066 #5,406
2003 modern 1,041 #5,418
2004 modern 1,063 #5,338
2005 modern 1,022 #5,451
2006 modern 1,009 #5,522
2007 modern 1,040 #5,440
2008 modern 1,043 #5,455
2009 modern 1,071 #5,442
2010 modern 1,110 #5,398
2011 modern 1,090 #5,420
2012 modern 1,037 #5,567
2013 modern 1,078 #5,478
2014 modern 1,074 #5,527
2015 modern 1,058 #5,543
2016 modern 1,049 #5,555

Geography

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Where Curwens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, St Bees, Poulton, Lytham and Cockerham (Ellel), Lancaster (Preesall with Hackersall) , Garstang (Pilling). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland and Wyre. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Poulton Lancashire
4 Lytham Lancashire
5 Cockerham (Ellel), Lancaster (Preesall with Hackersall) , Garstang (Pilling) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Wyre 009 Wyre
3 Copeland 003 Copeland
4 Wyre 006 Wyre
5 Copeland 004 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Curwen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Curwen

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Curwen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Curwen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Curwen is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Curwen is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Curwen

The surname CURWEN has its origins in the Cumberland area of northwestern England, near the town of Workington. It is derived from the Old English words "cyrn" meaning a quarry or mine, and "wynn" meaning a dwelling or enclosure. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a quarry or mine.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name was Culwenne in the Pipe Rolls of Cumberland in 1208. Over time, variations emerged such as Culwen, Culwenne, Culvyn, and Curwen. The surname is also linked to the place name Culwen, an old manor located near the present-day village of Camerton.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a landowner named Dolphin is mentioned as holding the manor of Culwen. This is believed to be one of the earliest references to the name.

One of the most notable historical figures with the surname CURWEN was Sir Christopher Curwen (c. 1450-1518), a Member of Parliament and Sheriff of Cumberland. He was also involved in the Battle of Towton during the Wars of the Roses.

Another prominent individual was Henry Curwen (1570-1623), an English clergyman and Bishop of Oxford from 1617 until his death.

In the 17th century, Edward Curwen (1591-1669) was a notable Quaker preacher and writer from Cumberland.

John Christian Curwen (1816-1880) was a English minister and educator who developed the Tonic Sol-fa system for teaching singing.

Lastly, Samuel Curwen (1718-1802) was an American loyalist and diarist during the American Revolutionary War, who documented his experiences in journals that provide valuable historical insights.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Curwen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Curwen 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. Lancashire leads with 391 Curwens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.34x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 391 5.34x
Cumberland 99 18.62x
Middlesex 24 0.39x
Westmorland 16 11.79x
Yorkshire 14 0.23x
Cheshire 13 0.95x
Staffordshire 12 0.58x
Kent 11 0.52x
Essex 10 0.82x
Fife 7 1.92x
Carmarthenshire 6 2.31x
Durham 6 0.33x
Surrey 6 0.20x
Bedfordshire 5 1.56x
Berkshire 3 0.65x
Northamptonshire 3 0.52x
Lincolnshire 2 0.20x
Devon 1 0.08x
Flintshire 1 0.60x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Isle of Man 1 0.87x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poulton Barre in Lancashire leads with 40 Curwens recorded in 1881 and an index of 479.62x.

Place Total Index
Poulton Barre 40 479.62x
Preston 40 20.41x
Layton With Warbreck 33 122.72x
Lancaster 30 68.81x
Whitehaven 25 88.25x
Out Rawcliffe 24 1371.43x
Pilling 19 552.33x
Preston Quarter 19 127.52x
Crosscanonby 16 91.01x
Barrow In Furness 14 14.05x
Little Bolton 14 14.86x
Thornton In Fylde 14 87.34x
Barnacre With Bonds 13 670.10x
Castle Church 12 95.77x
Quernmore 12 967.74x
Everton 11 4.71x
Garstang 11 666.67x
Thurnham 11 973.45x
Colton 10 261.78x
West Ham 10 3.72x
Workington 10 32.85x
Beckenham 9 32.68x
Cockerham 9 481.28x
Hampstead London 9 9.36x
Barton In Preston 8 1025.64x
Ulverston 8 37.49x
Horwich 7 87.61x
Sedgwick 7 1346.15x
St Leonards 7 426.83x
Bowland Forest Low 6 937.50x
Ferryhill 6 93.46x
Llanelly 6 10.24x
Acton 5 13.81x
Arlecdon 5 35.36x
Bedford St Paul 5 22.80x
Ellel 5 132.28x
Midgley 5 76.69x
Offerton 5 666.67x
Oxton 5 64.85x
Blackburn 4 2.05x
Clapham 4 5.18x
Dufton 4 454.55x
Keswick 4 58.82x
Liverpool 4 0.90x
Plumbland 4 291.97x
Great Bolton 3 3.09x
Great Eccleston 3 225.56x
Haile 3 483.87x
Kettering 3 12.77x
Newton 3 5.31x
Skerton 3 49.83x
Toxteth Park 3 1.21x
Wokingham 3 28.36x
Beckermet St Bridget 2 142.86x
Bromley 2 6.23x
Castle Sowerby 2 169.49x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 1.72x
Clee With Weelsby 2 9.26x
Graystoke 2 212.77x
Harrington 2 31.15x
Hindley 2 6.40x
Hulme 2 1.31x
Kirkdale 2 1.62x
Marton 2 41.07x
Norton In Malton 2 26.95x
Poulton Le Fylde 2 76.92x
Salford 2 0.93x
Scotforth 2 42.02x
St George Hanover Square 2 1.84x
Twyford Abbey 2 1250.00x
West Derby 2 0.93x
Accrington 1 1.50x
Clitheroe 1 4.64x
Ealing 1 1.81x
Great Salkeld 1 94.34x
Hendon 1 4.50x
Higher Kinnerton 1 116.28x
Little Sutton 1 54.64x
Nether Kellet 1 169.49x
Preston Patrick 1 86.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 26
Jane 26
Margaret 19
Sarah 16
Ann 14
Ellen 13
Alice 12
Agnes 10
Isabella 8
Emily 6
Annie 5
Edith 5
Harriet 5
Dora 4
Dorothy 4
Hannah 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Elizh. 3
Janet 3
Martha 3
Betsy 2
Constance 2
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Isabela 2
Lilly 2
Maria 2
May 2
Nancy 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Betty 1
Bridget 1
Caterine 1
Deborah 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elinor 1
Hebe 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
J.M. 1
Jessie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
William 36
Robert 34
Thomas 32
Henry 26
James 25
Richard 12
Edward 8
Joseph 8
Arthur 4
Benjamin 3
George 3
Jonathan 3
Richd. 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Chas. 2
Darcy 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Isaac 2
Martin 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Wm. 2
Carleton 1
Daniel 1
David 1
E. 1
Elijah 1
Elirt 1
Ernest 1
Ewart 1
F.T. 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Wilson 1
Harry 1
Jane 1
Jonathen 1
Levi 1
Milliant 1
Mossop 1
Owen 1
Robt. 1
Spedding 1
Stanley 1

FAQ

Curwen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Curwen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 632 people were recorded with the Curwen surname. That placed it at #5,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Curwen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,049 in 2016. That gives Curwen a modern rank of #5,555.

What does the Curwen surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name associated with Cornwall, England.

What does the Curwen map show?

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