Surname Curle - Meaning and Origin

Curle: What does the surname Curle mean?

The last name Curle is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English word "curl" or "curle", literally meaning "curly headed". In medieval times, it was common to refer to a person by their characteristics, profession, or location. Thus, the surname Curle was probably given to someone known for having curly hair. It first appeared in various counties in England around the 12th and 13th centuries. Some variations of this surname include Curl, Curls, Curley, Kerley, and Kirlie among others. It is important to note that many different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurrence due to the lack of consistency in spelling rules in past centuries. Surnames can reveal interesting information about your ancestors' physical attributes, locations, or professions. However, these are broad generalizations and do not apply to every individual bearing the surname Curle.

Curle: Where does the name Curle come from?

The surname Curle is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old Norse word "karl" meaning "man". It primarily signifies 'the son of Carl', where 'Carl' is a popular personal name during the Middle Ages. The family Curle first lived in the region of Carlisle, in the borderlands between Scotland and England.

Over time, the name has spread to various parts of the world due to migration and offspring. Today, it can still be found in Scotland, England, and Ireland to a lesser extent. Additionally, areas with substantial past Scottish and Irish immigration, such as North America and Australia, also have descendants bearing the Curle surname. However, it's not very common anywhere, indicating that although it has spread, it hasn't considerably proliferated in any particular region. Like many surnames, the exact distribution of people with the Curle surname changes over time and can be influenced by various factors including migration and changes in the popularity of the surname.

Variations of the surname Curle

The surname Curle has origins in England and Scotland, derived from the old Gaelic name 'MacThoirdealbhaigh' and 'MacThaidhg'.

Several variants and similar spellings of the surname ‘Curle’ exist, including Curl, Curll, Curls, Curling, Kerl, Kerle, Kerling, Kurl, and Kurle. It may also be seen as Carle or Carl, and in some cases could be a variant of the French surname Carrel. The name can also be found with prefix such as 'Mac' resulting in 'MacCurle' or 'McCurle'.

There's also a slight possibility of the surname being converted to Curley, Corley, or Curlee in some regions or families. Some derivatives of this surname stem from the profession of the individual like Curler (someone who curled hair or perhaps made curling stones) and Curlews (from the bird of same name symbolizing someone who lived in an area populated by these birds).

Many different spellings can result from phonetic translations when families emigrated, for example from Scotland to Ireland or other countries, causing the surname to evolve and adapt to different languages and dialects.

Famous people with the name Curle

• Andrew Curle: a former British soldier and the former deputy chairman of Royal Mail.
• Sir William Curle: a Scottish diplomat and diplomatist, associated with the English court of Henri IV during the 16th century.
• Sir George Curle: an English politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1802 until 1806.
• Henry Curle: a Victorian-era inventor and artist who founded the Curle Printing Machines Ltd firm in 1882.
• Leslie Curle: a British engineer and architect, best known for his designs of multiple iconic buildings including the Manchester Town Hall and Wellington Arch in London.
• Charles Curle: an American civil engineer, best known for his contributions to the construction of the Panama Canal in the early 20th century.
• Marlene Curle: an American fashion and beauty magazine editor, who served as editor-in-chief of the now-defunct Glamour magazine in the 1970s.
• Nick Curle: a British professional football manager, previously managing Northampton Town and a number of other teams throughout his career.
• Alfred Curle: a Canadian geologist and paleontologist, best known for his contributions to the field of fossilized dinosaur tracks.
• Donald Curle: a Scottish author, best known for his novels set in the 19th century such as "The Loneliness of the Matchmaker" and "The Gentleman and the Whore".

Other surnames

CurlCurlandCurländerCurleeCurlewCurleweCurleyCurlieCurlieuCurlileCurlockCurly