The surname Curran is common in all four provinces in Ireland, but especially in County Donegal and throughout Ulster. The name is also prevalent in the south of Ireland, appearing many times in the County Tipperary Hearth Money Rolls of 1665-7. Currans showed up frequently as Waterford residents in the census of 1659. The 1901 census in Kerry counted 142 Curran or Currane families.
Though Curran is the standard form of the name, in Kerry the form Currane is more common. Other modern synonyms include Kirrane, Corhen, and Curreen. The origin of the word comes from O Corráin, or O Cooraidhín; both derive from corradh, meaning spear.
In the Middle Ages, the Currans were a family of distinguished ecclesiastics. Simon O Curráin, a Dominican friar who died in 1302, served as Bishop of Kilfenora. Andrew O Currán, a Benedictine, was appointed prior of Glasscarrif in 1411. James O Corren was Bishop of Killaloe from 1526 to 1546.
Perhaps the most famous Currans in Irish history are John Philpot “J.P.” Curran and his daughter, Sarah Curran. J.P. (1750-1817) was born in Newmarket, County Cork, but his political career brought him to Dublin, where he studied at Trinity College. Curran settled his family in Rathfarnam and rose to prominence as an orator, patriot, and lawyer. He was a Protestant, but he earned his initial fame in protecting the rights of an ill-treated Catholic clergyman. During his career he defended many United Irishmen.
His daughter Sarah (1781-1808) is known historically as a romantic and tragic figure. She was engaged to rebel leader Robert Emmet, who was executed after the rising of 1803. Because her engagement to a rebel risked the ruination of her father’s career, Sarah was outcast from the Rathfarnam home, and was obliged to take refuge with friends in Cork. Curran later married, but it is said that she never recovered from the loss of Emmet, and died of a broken heart. Her story inspired the Thomas Moore ballad “She is far from the Land,” which laments:
She is far from the land where her young hero sleeps
And lovers around her are sighing;
But coldly she turns from their gaze and weeps
For her heart in his grave is lying.
Surprisingly, the most famous Irish-American Curran is none other than legendary star Gene Kelly (1912-1996). Born Eugene Curran Kelly, this singer, dancer, choreographer, actor, and director was the son of one Harriet Curran Kelly. Kelly’s maternal grandfather moved to America from County Clare in the 1800s. Kelly’s dancing skill revolutionized movie musicals, and his 1952 hit Singin’ in the Rain is one of the finest and most loved screen musicals.
Other Currans have also impacted the performing arts. San Franciscans celebrate the thriving Curran Theater, founded in 1922 by Homer Curran (d. 1952). Seán Curran (b.1962) is a choreographer and modern dancer who got his start by training in traditional Irish step dancing. A former member of the Bill T. Jones / Amie Zane Dance Company, he now heads up the Seán Curran Dance Company. He won a Bessie Award in 1996 for performance and choreography. His father, John Curran, hosts The Sound of Erin, a Boston radio show, and is a founding member of the Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Eireann branch in Boston.
Curran artists also include Pearl Gildersleeve Curran (1875-1941), who brought Irish music to the mountains of Colorado. This accomplished pianist and violinist also worked as a composer. Charles Courtney Curran (1861-1942) was a Kentucky-born impressionist painter.
The monastic Currans of medieval Ireland must have passed on a penchant for the faith to their Irish-American descendants. John Joseph Curran (1859-1936) was the son of Irish immigrants from County Mayo, Ireland. Before becoming a Roman Catholic priest in 1887, he began his working life at the age of eight, as a slate picker in the Pennsylvania Coal Mines, where his older brother also worked.
Curran rose to prominence because of his sympathies with the coal miners. He even served as an intermediary between the White House and the United Mine Workers Union during industry disputes. During those years, he became close to President Theodore Roosevelt, who described Curran as “a first-class type of priest, the kind of priest needed in a democracy.”
Charles E. Curran is another Roman Catholic priest. A professor and writer, he stirred controversy in the Catholic Church during the 1980s for his liberal views on sexual ethics.
Other current notable Irish-American Currans include Denis Curran, the director and president (International) of Bank of Ireland Asset Management, and double honoree of Irish America‘s “Wall Street 50.” John P. Curran, president of Curran Capital Management, was also named to the “Wall Street 50.” In politics, Frank Earl Curran served as mayor of San Diego, California from 1963 to 1972. ♦
I’m a Curran. Jo-Anne Curran of Australia. I am 50 in June 9th. I found this information enlightening to learn a bit about my roots and myself.. Thankyou.
Hello from a Curran cousin! I live in Maryland, USA (originally from Alaska thanks to the military postings of BOTH my grandfathers who served in the Army). I learned a lot from this article and am June-born, like yourself: I turned 43 on June 11th! It is great to see there are Curran cousins all across the globe…Cheers!
I am also a Curran however I don’t know my lineage, I was adopted before I could remember.
I too am a Curran. Not much is known about my fathers side of my family. We know he was born in the Boston area and moved to CT as a young boy. Went to school in Bridgeport CT. My grandmother was (still is) Florence Kelly. Finding information about the Curran family heritage is enlightening
My father was also born in Boston and his mother was a Curran and he too later moved to Connecticut. Her grandmother was a Kelly. I am hoping to track down this lineage.
Also a Curran….
I’m in Edinburgh, Scotland but my father is from County Down. Although I was born in Scotland, we moved to County Dublin and lived in Rathfarnham, where John Philpot lived also.
The area is worth visiting if you’re interested in the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. Padraig (Patrick) Pearse and his brother Willie, setup and ran the school St. Endas, which is now a museum.
I’m a Curran too. Born in Scotland, now in England. Can’t find my ‘family’ as all certificates just say ‘Ireland’ but no area. Family folklore says Mayo. Wish I could trace them! I’ll be 66 in June.
A Curran from India, Living in US, Texas. I know part of my roots stem from Irisish soldiers joined the British army invasion and rule over India for several centuries. We have siblings in India, UK, Australia and other parts of the globe.
Our grand parents and parent have lived in poverty for most of their life in India, but still lived with their pride and morals, often all of the lacked education but had jobs working in the railways.
I am glad to connect with my roots, all Curran are welcome to reach out to me for any communication, chat or know about one’s roots.
Hello Alfred I live in Australia and am interested if there is any connections as my Curran family line also traces back to the Irish military serving in India.
Currans are prominent in Boston, MA. My came from Ireland to Boston (Roxbury and later moved to Dorchester).. We now populate the MA towns of Dorchester, Plymouth, West Roxbury, Braintree, Hull, Marshfield, Winthrop, Melrose, Monson, Quincy and The Woodlands, Texas (me…always a stray). There is another Curran here in The Woodlands, Patrick. Not sure where he started out.
Very interesting article. My whole life I thought we were lineage of poor or drunken potato-famine farmers. Perhaps we were “ecclesiastical”. That is a much more compelling story. .I think I’ll adopt it!
Hi Mike, my father is also of the Boston Currans and his family lived many years in Dorchester.
I found the article very interesting. I, as well as my kid’s are interested in learning about our roots. My Moms name was Sarah Curran!
There are a few Currans here in Virginia. My Dad’s family came across the Northern States with the railroads to Oregon. He was from Seattle but came East in the Army in WWII. Our branch has now spread to North Carolina and Colorado.
Hi I’m a Curran, living in Brisbane Australia, good reading, amazing spread across the world
I George am also a Curran and found the article very helpful, giving my view of my heritage a greater breadth. My Curran ancestors came from County Clare via Canada to settle in North Adams, Massachusetts. My current abode is in Waynesboro, Virginia, whilst others of my generation abide in Philadelphia amd Kansas City.
Hi George,
Did you have any relatives in Vesey Lodge, Oranmore, Co Galway
I am a descendant of Thomas Hickey (b. 1796) and Catherine Curran (1805) of Barnhart Island in the St. Lawrence Seaway area of Masena, NY.. I live on Long Island in NY. Both arrived in the area when they we young children and am seeking information on both side of this family. I have found that Thomas’ family hails from Doneraile Ireland (of which I have visited to seek more info). I have read somewhere that Catherine’s father was The Famous Michael Curran but after seeking info found nothing that would make him famous unless he was a priest before bearing children. He is buried in Amprior Ontario and the info there states he was born in 1791 and died in 1875b – could he have fathered my 3G Grandmother at age 14? So confused.
Hello my name is Candace and my mother born as a mary Margaret Curran. Unfortunately has a very sad story to tell. Mothers descendants escaped the pototae famine. I remember hearing these stories from mother passed down to her. My grandmother Frances eilers married a William a. Curran and they had eight children, and one being my mother. Frances Curran died at age 37, of colon cancer. Six of the 8 children ended up in st.Marys orphanage in Dubuque Iowa in 1947, all to be adopted out. The oldest three, all left out to the world to fend for themselves which one was my mother Mary Curran and only 14 1\2 years old. I have done extensive research on these Curran’s and hope to release a book on these Curran’s before I die. The Curran’s were a bunch of wonderful and noteworthy people. I will give you a snippet of my book of a honorable man named john philpot Curran whose political career brought him to Dublin where he studied at trinity college but settled his family in rathfarnam and rose to prominence. Bare in mind, he was born in 1750 and died in 1817, but rose to prominence as an orator, patriot and lawyer and he protected the rights of all I’ll treated catholic clergyman. This man is very interesting and the life of these Curran’s very noteworthy and would make a very fabulous Hollywood movie, to say the least. My name is Candace and I am the daughter of Mary Curran, and hoping to get my book published, when done. ,563 213 6119. God bless
I was born a Curran (married now) Both parents were born and raised in Scotland immigrated to South Africa in the 1960. I believe we originated from Irish Catholics. My dads great grandfather moved to Scotland and thats all I know and became a Protestant. Unfortunately my Dad was an only child and my Mom was adopted so I know of no family in Scotland, America etc etc.
My family has lived in Ontario county NY for almost 200 years. I think my forefathers snuck in from Canada. We still own the property we settled on. We had a orchard, cash crop, now successful construction business. I myself am in politics…but unlike most Currans I am a Republican.
My grandfather was Patrick Joseph Curran Jr. He would be in his mid 90’s if he were still alive. He had a sisters named Catherine, Theresa and Frances… He had a brother named Paul. Their father was a fire chief. . I don’t know much beyond that. We are all in Nashville, TN (USA). There are lots of us!
My grandfather’s name was Paul Curran. I’m not sure of much information beyond my grandfather just yet. Wouldn’t it be crazy if we were connected?
Hello I’m a Curran and I’m also from Maryland.
Hello fellow Currans,
My name is Brian Patrick Curran. I was born and raised in Dorchester, MA(in fact, my parents still live there).However, they are both from the neighboring town of South Boston. My father had 12 siblings (several of them are now deceased- God rest their souls). They had a total of 25 children. Therefore, l have more than s few cousins out there. Moreover, there were several other Curran families throughout Southie while my parents were growing up. In fact, two other Curran families lived in the same housing projects. So we are obviousky well represented in the Boston area. Anyway, l appreciate this site for providing history of our surname and giving us the opportunity to share our stories and potentially connect.
It is my understanding that most of my direct descendants hail from County Cork, as well as parts of Galway and Donegal. Slainte!
I’m a Curran. Off spring of Frederick of Swad, Co. Cavan.
I’m in Ireland for a few days to visit Donegal where I believe our family came from. The most famous Curran in our family tree that I know of was Tom Curran. He was born in 1830ish. I know his father was Michael but not much else Tom was the undefeated bare knuckle boxing champion of Jersey and Australia. He immigrated in the 1850s. He defeated the American Harry Sellars for the title winning 600 pounds in 1860. The family should have been wealthy but being Irish…..
Hi to all Currans out there! Me & my family of Currans are here in Wisconsin. Some live in Illinois, Florida, Texas, Michigan & California too! 🙂
Hello, I too am a Curran. Family lore passed down is that we came from County Cork with family there until about 25 years ago, Aunt Margaret. My grandfather’s family emigrated and ended in Rochester, New York. He then moved to Cleveland, Ohio. If anyone follows this lineage I would love to have more information and communication.