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Irish surname

Curran: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Corráin · 'descendant of Corrán' (diminutive of Corradh)

Woulfe (1923) gives Curran as an anglicised form of Ó Corráin, 'descendant of Corrán', 'a common Irish surname, found in all the provinces', and of its variant Ó Corraidhín, which is common in Munster and South Leinster. In 1890 Curran births were registered chiefly in Donegal, Dublin, Waterford and Galway.

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Coat of arms associated with the Curran surname
Irish formÓ Corráin
Meaning'descendant of Corrán' (diminutive of Corradh)
CountiesDonegal, Dublin, Waterford, Galway
Other spellings6

Origin of the Curran name

Woulfe gives Ó Corráin (also written Ó Curráin), 'descendant of Corrán', a common surname found in all the provinces, sometimes used interchangeably with Ó Carráin, Ó Carraidhín and Ó Corraidhín. Ó Corraidhín, 'descendant of Corraidhín', is common throughout Munster and South Leinster and 'generally anglicised Curran'. He names no single sept or territory.[1][2][3]

  1. 1750John Philpot Curran born at Newmarket, Co. Cork, 24 July.[4]
  2. 1792Curran's parliamentary speech on Catholic Emancipation, 4 February.[4]
  3. 1806John Philpot Curran appointed Master of the Rolls for Ireland.[4]
  4. 1817John Philpot Curran dies in London, 14 October.[4]
  5. 1847Dr John Oliver Curran dies of Famine typhus, 28 September.[5]
  6. 1890169 Curran births (incl. spelling variants), chiefly Donegal, Dublin, Waterford, Galway.[6]

Where in Ireland

Co. DonegalFirst county named for Curran births in 1890; Ulster had 67 of 169.[6]
Co. DublinAmong the counties where Curran was principally found in 1890.[6]
Co. WaterfordAmong the counties where Curran was principally found in 1890.[6]
Co. GalwayAmong the counties where Curran was principally found in 1890.[6]

Notable people named Curran

John Philpot Curran1750–1817Orator and barrister from Newmarket, Co. Cork; defended United Irishmen; Master of the Rolls for Ireland 1806–1814.[4]
John Oliver Curran1819–1847Physician and lecturer born near Lisburn; member of the Royal Irish Academy; died of Famine typhus.[5]

Other spellings

O'Curran · Currane · Currain · Corran · Curren · Currin[1]

The Curran coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Curran surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Curran crest gifts

Clan Curran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapXQ44 Classic Cap - Curran Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Curran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Curran surname: questions

What does the surname Curran mean?

Woulfe gives Curran as an anglicised form of Ó Corráin, 'descendant of Corrán' (a diminutive of Corradh), and of Ó Corraidhín, 'descendant of Corraidhín'.[1][2]

Is Curran an Irish name?

Woulfe gives it as Irish: Ó Corráin is 'a common Irish surname, found in all the provinces', and Ó Corraidhín, common in Munster and South Leinster, is 'generally anglicised Curran'.[1][2]

Where in Ireland is the Curran name from?

Woulfe says Ó Corráin is found in all the provinces. In 1890 Curran births were chiefly in Donegal, Dublin, Waterford and Galway, with the most (67 of 169) in Ulster.[1][6]

Who was John Philpot Curran?

An orator and barrister born at Newmarket, Co. Cork, in 1750. He defended United Irishmen, was Master of the Rolls for Ireland from 1806 to 1814, and died in London in 1817.[4]

Sources

  1. Ó Corráin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-corrain.php
  2. Ó Corraidhín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-corraidhin.php
  3. Ó Curráin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-currain.php
  4. John Philpot Curran — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JohnPhilpotCurran.php
  5. John Oliver Curran — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JohnOliverCurran.php
  6. Curran — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/curran.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).