Curwen

Curwen
Recorded in many spelling forms including Culwen, Curwen, Kerwen, Kerwin, Kervyn, and Kerven, and often confused with the famous Irish surname Kirwan, this is an Anglo-Scottish surname of ancient and confusing origins. It is locational and derives from the village of Colvend, originally Culewen, on the mouth of the River Urr, in Kircudbrightshire, in Scotland. In the spelling of Curwen and its derivatives, the surname is English and Cumbrian, but is believed to also originate from the Scotland. The place name meaning and hence the surname is obscure, but is probably a development of the Olde English pre 7th century 'col wincel' or similar, the cold place! Being situated as it is on the mouth of a river, this would seem to be a logical explanation. Locational surnames were usually 'from' names, but in Gaelic regions the opposite applied, thus giving rise to the development of the 'clans' in the post medieval period. In this case examples of the surname recordings from those ancient times include Gilbert de Culewen, a charter witness for the Abbey of Holyrood in the year 1262, and Sir Thomas Culwenne, also a charter witness in 1289. In England Gilbert de Colwenn is recorded in Cumberland in 1332, and Robert Curwen of Yorkshire is recorded in the Poll Tax rolls for that county in 1379. Later recordings take from surviving church registers include: Joyce Kerwyn, who married Richard Tompson at St Helen's Bishopgate, London, on January 13th 1580, Alice Kervyn, who married John Watkinson at St Mary Magdalene, London, on December 19th 1588, and Catherine Kerwin, who married Nicholas Brown, at St Botolph's Bishopgate, also London, on July 7th 1766.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Curwen — is an English surname. It may refer to: Real people Anne Curwen (1889–1973), National General Secretary, YWCA of Great Britain Christopher Curwen KCMG (born 1929), Head of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 1985 to 1989 Clarice Modeste… …   Wikipedia

  • Curwen Press — The Curwen Press was founded by the Reverend John Curwen in 1863 to publish sheet music for the tonic sol fa system.[1] The Press was based in Plaistow, Newham, east London, England, where Curwen was a pastor from 1844.[2] The Curwen Press, under …   Wikipedia

  • Curwen, Joseph —    (1662/3–1771; 1928)    In The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Curwen arrives in Providence from Salem in 1692 seeking asylum. As a result of his alchemical studies, he lives a preternaturally long life but also attracts unwanted attention. He… …   An H.P.Lovecraft encyclopedia

  • Curwen, John — ▪ British educator born Nov. 14, 1816, Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, Eng. died May 26, 1880, Manchester  British music educator and founder of the tonic sol fa system of musical notation, which concentrates the student s attention on the relating of… …   Universalium

  • Curwen — biographical name John 1816 1880 English music teacher …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • CURWEN, JOHN —    an Independent clergyman, born in Yorkshire; the founder of the Tonic Sol fa system in music; from 1864 gave himself up to the advocacy and advancement of his system (1816 1880) …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • John Curwen — Reverend John Curwen (1816–1880) was an English Congregationalist minister, and founder of the Tonic sol fa system of music education. He was educated at Wymondley College and University College London. [H.C. Colles, et al. Curwen. Grove Music… …   Wikipedia

  • Patricius Curwen — Sir Patricius Curwen, 1st Baronet (c. 1602 – 15 December 1664) was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1640 to 1643 and from 1661 to 1664. He supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War… …   Wikipedia

  • John Curwen — John Curwen, Porträt von William Gush, circa 1857 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Charles Curwen Walker — (1856–1940) was a Christadelphian writer and editor of The Christadelphian Magazine from 1898 to 1937. Life C. C. Walker was born near Diss, Depwade Rural District, Norfolk on February 18, 1856, son of a landowner. His middle name Curwen… …   Wikipedia

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