Currie

This unusual and interesting Anglo-Scottish surname has three possible origins. The first of these is English and locational from any of the places in Somerset such as Curry Mallet or Curry Revel so called from the river "Curry", on which they stand. The etymology of the river name is obscure, but may derive from the pre 7th century word "cweorn" meaning a mill. The other origins are both Scottish, and are also locational. The first is from the place called Currie in the former County of Midlothian, recorded in this form in 1230. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "curraigh", meaning a wet plain or marsh, or secondly from the place called Corrie in the former County of Dunfrieshire, named from the Gaelic "coire", cauldron, used of a circular hanging valley. Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The first recording of the name in England is that of Richard de Cury, which was dated 1212, in the Fees Court Records of Somerset. Recordings from London Church Registers include: the christening of Ann Currie, an infant, on October 15th 1637, at St. Gregory by St. Paul's; the christening of Ann, daughter of Thomas Currey, on September 26th 1648, at St. Andrew's, Holborn; and the marriage of Margaret Curry and John Goddard, in 1742, at St. George's, Hanover Square. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Philip de Curry, which was dated 1179, granted the lands of Dalhengun and Bargower in Kyle to the Abbey of Melrose, during the reign of King William, known as "The Lion" of Scotland, 1165 - 1214. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.