NameCensus.

UK surname

Curzon

An occupational surname derived from the French word "courson", meaning a small course or watercourse.

In the 1881 census there were 586 people recorded with the Curzon surname, ranking it #5,952 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,071, ranked #5,458, up from #5,952 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Davenham, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Curzon is 1,166 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.8%.

1881 census count

586

Ranked #5,952

Modern count

1,071

2016, ranked #5,458

Peak year

1999

1,166 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Curzon had 586 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,952 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,071 in 2016, ranked #5,458.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 949 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Curzon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Curzon surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Curzon 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 165 #12,053
1861 historical 273 #9,134
1881 historical 586 #5,952
1891 historical 560 #6,775
1901 historical 805 #5,605
1911 historical 949 #4,747
1997 modern 1,102 #5,055
1998 modern 1,136 #5,109
1999 modern 1,166 #5,048
2000 modern 1,141 #5,114
2001 modern 1,113 #5,118
2002 modern 1,139 #5,131
2003 modern 1,103 #5,171
2004 modern 1,095 #5,205
2005 modern 1,102 #5,118
2006 modern 1,105 #5,121
2007 modern 1,082 #5,249
2008 modern 1,093 #5,246
2009 modern 1,125 #5,218
2010 modern 1,146 #5,261
2011 modern 1,124 #5,276
2012 modern 1,102 #5,284
2013 modern 1,106 #5,349
2014 modern 1,088 #5,457
2015 modern 1,064 #5,514
2016 modern 1,071 #5,458

Geography

Back to top

Where Curzons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Davenham, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh and Crich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester 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 Davenham Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Crich Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 035 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Cheshire West and Chester 040 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Cheshire West and Chester 038 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Cheshire West and Chester 037 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Amber Valley 016 Amber Valley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Curzon

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Curzon

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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, Curzon 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

Curzon is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Curzon falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Curzon

The surname Curzon is of Old French origin, deriving from the placename Courson or Courçon. It is believed to have originated in the region of Normandy, France, during the Middle Ages, possibly as early as the 11th century.

The name Curzon is thought to have derived from the Old French words "cour" meaning "court" or "courtyard," and "son" meaning "his" or "their." This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have lived near or been associated with a courtyard or manor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Curzon can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Curcun" and "Curcione," referencing individuals residing in various parts of England at the time.

In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Reginald Curzon was recorded as holding lands in Oxfordshire, England. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the area for generations.

During the 13th century, the Curzon family established their presence in Kedleston, Derbyshire, where they built a manor house and eventually acquired the title of Lords of Kedleston. One notable member was John Curzon (c.1285-1349), who served as Sheriff of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

In the 16th century, Sir John Curzon (1500-1585) was a prominent landowner and served as High Sheriff of Derbyshire. His son, Sir Francis Curzon (1536-1609), was an English Member of Parliament and continued the family's influential presence in the region.

Another distinguished bearer of the surname was George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston (1859-1925), a British Conservative statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905 and later as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Robert Curzon, 14th Baron Zouche (1610-1666), was an English peer and Royalist army officer during the English Civil War, known for his unwavering support of King Charles I.

The Curzon family has also produced several notable authors and academics, including Robert Curzon (1810-1873), an English traveler and author who wrote extensively about his travels in Armenia and Persia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Curzon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Curzon 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. Cheshire leads with 143 Curzons recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.31x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 143 11.31x
Derbyshire 133 14.84x
Nottinghamshire 62 8.03x
Middlesex 48 0.84x
Warwickshire 30 2.08x
Staffordshire 25 1.29x
Yorkshire 19 0.33x
Lancashire 16 0.24x
Hampshire 12 1.02x
Surrey 12 0.43x
Cambridgeshire 10 2.76x
Kent 10 0.51x
Lincolnshire 9 0.98x
Gloucestershire 8 0.71x
Northamptonshire 8 1.49x
Devon 6 0.50x
Monmouthshire 6 1.45x
Sussex 6 0.62x
Berkshire 5 1.16x
Leicestershire 5 0.79x
Lanarkshire 3 0.16x
Worcestershire 3 0.40x
Royal Navy 2 2.93x
Shropshire 2 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.29x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Northumberland 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wharton in Cheshire leads with 76 Curzons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1104.65x.

Place Total Index
Wharton 76 1104.65x
Crich 46 786.32x
Over 27 210.12x
Nottingham St Mary 22 11.02x
Derby St Werburgh 16 30.91x
Stoke Upon Trent 16 7.81x
Brimington 13 190.90x
Runcorn 13 44.61x
Aston 11 2.77x
Ripley 11 99.28x
Birmingham 10 2.08x
St Pancras London 10 2.17x
Wincham 10 429.18x
Killamarsh 9 161.29x
Derby St Alkmund 8 29.77x
Derby St Peter 8 28.02x
Radford 8 20.40x
Southwell 8 142.35x
East Dean 7 2000.00x
Sheffield 7 3.88x
St Andrewthe Less 7 16.90x
Stamford All Sts 7 136.45x
Tonbridge 7 9.93x
Brimpsfield 6 821.92x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 13.91x
Earls Barton 6 130.72x
Kedleston 6 2500.00x
Kensington London 6 1.88x
Newington 6 2.84x
Tranmere 6 12.92x
Wingfield South 6 250.00x
Farnborough 5 40.55x
Nottingham St Peter 5 58.14x
Ruislip 5 175.44x
St Anne Soho London 5 15.29x
Tottenham 5 5.48x
Toxteth Park 5 2.17x
Upton 5 510.20x
Crumpsall 4 24.98x
Kingston On Thames 4 5.97x
Trevethin 4 10.23x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 4 35.56x
Burton Upon Trent 3 6.63x
Chelsea London 3 1.74x
Clewer 3 17.04x
Coventry St Michael 3 6.47x
Great Malvern 3 19.23x
Horsforth 3 24.12x
Hove 3 7.08x
Hugglescote 3 32.12x
Leeds 3 0.94x
Monks Coppenhall 3 6.29x
St Benedict Cambridge 3 146.34x
St Luke London 3 3.27x
Burford 2 238.10x
Clarborough 2 34.66x
Doveridge 2 147.06x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 7.33x
Frampton 2 115.61x
Gamston 2 408.16x
Govan 2 0.44x
Handsworth 2 4.20x
Islington London 2 0.36x
Llanvihangel Crucorney 2 229.89x
Nottingham St Nicholas 2 19.03x
Parr 2 8.23x
Rotherham 2 6.25x
Royal Navy 2 3.43x
St Marylebone London 2 0.65x
Tormoham 2 3.97x
Toton 2 526.32x
Uttoxeter 2 20.22x
Wakefield 2 4.59x
Walton On Hill 2 5.43x
Weston Underwood 2 588.24x
Worksop 2 8.74x
Eton 1 12.74x
Litchurch 1 2.77x
Southrepps 1 58.82x
Twycross 1 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 46
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 22
Ann 10
Ellen 10
Emily 10
Hannah 10
Eliza 8
Annie 7
Emma 7
Martha 6
Frances 5
Gertrude 5
Lucy 5
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Elizth. 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Eleanor 3
Isabella 3
Matilda 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Blanch 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Jessie 2
Leah 2
Lydia 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Sybil 2
Blanche 1
Candace 1
Catherine 1
Edna 1
Elinor 1
Eliza.A. 1
Geraldine 1
Hilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 38
William 34
George 25
Thomas 22
Alfred 12
Charles 11
James 11
Robert 10
Henry 8
Joseph 8
Richard 8
Walter 8
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Leonard 5
Samuel 5
Frank 4
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Matthew 3
Albert 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Owen 2
Sidney 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Authur 1
Cursham 1
Eligah 1
Elijah 1
Frederic 1
Fredk 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.C.C. 1
Fredk.G. 1
Harrold 1
Isaac 1
Oliver 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Rewben 1
Robt. 1
Rueben 1

FAQ

Curzon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Curzon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 586 people were recorded with the Curzon surname. That placed it at #5,952 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Curzon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,071 in 2016. That gives Curzon a modern rank of #5,458.

What does the Curzon surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the French word "courson", meaning a small course or watercourse.

What does the Curzon map show?

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