Early (Irish) Origins
The following information has been obtained from an American source. To be honest I have no reason to believe or disbelieve this version of the origins of our family name but it makes for an interesting read and identifies some interesting historical facts that I had not come across before including legends about the invasion of Ireland probably from Spain in 1000 BC.
Irish Origins
The Curling surname is an Anglicization, derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac Toirdhealbhaigh."
Ancient History
The Irish race has had a significant impact on world history, which seems almost disproportionate to the size of the tiny Emerald Isle, and its population. The Irish can proudly boast of world class statesmen, artists, poets and scholars, as well as a difficult history, full of conflict and rich with Celtic culture.
Interwoven with the fabric of this great land is the history of the Irish sept (family) Curling. Analysts have isolated evidence by researching historical documents such as church baptisms, parish records, and ancient land grants, as well as more contemporary sources such as works by O'Hart, MacLysaght, O'Brien, and Woulfe. Research has suggested that the family name Curling was first found in the Connacht counties of Galway and Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht, where the places names Ballymacurley and Curley's Island can be found. There is also legend in Ireland, that the name descends from Maolduin, the second son of the 164th Monarch of Ireland, who founded the clanns of Muldoon. Maolduin's great, great grandson was Clercen, whose name means "curly one." Clercen founded the clan O'Cleircen, which anglicized is Curley or Curling.
Spelling Variations
The Anglicisation of names from Gaelic was a major cause of spelling variations of the names that were found in the archives researched. This is in addition to variations of the Gaelic itself, and spelling changes were frequently made by church officials and clerks. The name, Curling, occurred in many references but variations included Corley, MacCorley, Curley, Curlee, Curling, Kirley, McKerley, McCurley, McCurly and McKerlie, and others. Any preference for a certain spelling was often due to loyalty to a certain branch of the family or for religious or political reasons.
Early History (Myth and Legend)
There is an abundance of legend about the early days Irish history, involving ancient Celtic Kings, Queens and heroes. The Celts did not commit their knowledge to writing and instead they relied on a strong oral tradition to remember and pass on events in their history. Another purpose of this oral tradition was to celebrate past warriors at feasts and celebrations, and to prepare new ones for battle with tales of glory. As a result the stories became more fantastic the more they evolved, and how strongly they are based on fact is uncertain. There are many different viewpoints on the issue though, and some historians still have faith in the old legends.
The last invasion of Ireland occurred about 1000 B.C. by a Celtic race from the South, likely from the area of Spain. The books by O'Hart state that these people, the Milesians, were descended from King Milesius of Spain. Milesius, a great general/king, was instrumental in defending Egypt from the King of Ethiopia. He turned his attention northward to Ireland to fulfill an ancient Druidic prophecy during a 26 year famine that he believed was his punishment for not attempting to fulfill it earlier. He sent an army to explore the fertile island. When he found that his uncle had been murdered by three resident Irish Kings of the Tuatha de Danaan, Milesius gathered another army to take revenge. He died, though, before he embarked on the trip, leaving his remaining eight sons to conquer Ireland.
They named the land Scota or Scotia, after their mother. That name was taken and applied to Caladonia, now known as Scotland, when the Scots invaded there in the 5th century. One theory about the origin of the name Ireland is that it came from 'Ir-land,' the land of Ir, the second son of Milesius, and one who never made it to the Island, but whose son did and was allotted a share of the land.
The great Gaelic name of Curling emerged later in Connacht. In Scotland, bearers of the family name settled in the lands of Cunningham, just south of Glasgow, from about the year 1305, and at Tarbolton in Ayrshire. Kirley is a townland lying within the civil parish of Maghera, County Londonderry and Moybeg Kirley, derived from the Gaelic "Maigh Bheag" meaning "little plain" is a townland lying within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan, County Londonderry.
In about 1167 Dermott MacMurrough, King of Leinster, was defeated in a feud and requested aid from King Henry II of England, who opportunistically allowed him to enlist the help of his subjects. Richard de Clare, or Strongbow, became Dermott's greatest ally. He landed in Ireland in 1170 and solidified the earlier victories of other Norman Lords with the presence of his great force. The success of the Normans in Ireland prompted the King of England to arrive with his own army in 1172, and reaffirm the allegiance of his subjects, as well as establish himself as the overlord of the other kings and chiefs in Ireland. He succeeded, and in so doing, permanently linked England to the affairs of Ireland.
The Great Migration
In the New World the Irish played an important role in building the nation. They formed much of the labour force that built the railroads, coal mines, bridges and canals and they lent their culture to the arts, sciences, commerce and religion. Incidentally, there is a story that during the unsettled times of the 19th century, 9 rebellious Irishmen were sentenced to death. Their sentence was transferred to banishment to the colonies and in 1888, a surprised Queen Victoria learned that all nine had become prominent men in their new country, as statesmen, high court judges, mayors and bishops.
Early Settlers
More to follow shortly...............
The Curling surname is an Anglicization, derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac Toirdhealbhaigh."
Ancient History
The Irish race has had a significant impact on world history, which seems almost disproportionate to the size of the tiny Emerald Isle, and its population. The Irish can proudly boast of world class statesmen, artists, poets and scholars, as well as a difficult history, full of conflict and rich with Celtic culture.
Interwoven with the fabric of this great land is the history of the Irish sept (family) Curling. Analysts have isolated evidence by researching historical documents such as church baptisms, parish records, and ancient land grants, as well as more contemporary sources such as works by O'Hart, MacLysaght, O'Brien, and Woulfe. Research has suggested that the family name Curling was first found in the Connacht counties of Galway and Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht, where the places names Ballymacurley and Curley's Island can be found. There is also legend in Ireland, that the name descends from Maolduin, the second son of the 164th Monarch of Ireland, who founded the clanns of Muldoon. Maolduin's great, great grandson was Clercen, whose name means "curly one." Clercen founded the clan O'Cleircen, which anglicized is Curley or Curling.
Spelling Variations
The Anglicisation of names from Gaelic was a major cause of spelling variations of the names that were found in the archives researched. This is in addition to variations of the Gaelic itself, and spelling changes were frequently made by church officials and clerks. The name, Curling, occurred in many references but variations included Corley, MacCorley, Curley, Curlee, Curling, Kirley, McKerley, McCurley, McCurly and McKerlie, and others. Any preference for a certain spelling was often due to loyalty to a certain branch of the family or for religious or political reasons.
Early History (Myth and Legend)
There is an abundance of legend about the early days Irish history, involving ancient Celtic Kings, Queens and heroes. The Celts did not commit their knowledge to writing and instead they relied on a strong oral tradition to remember and pass on events in their history. Another purpose of this oral tradition was to celebrate past warriors at feasts and celebrations, and to prepare new ones for battle with tales of glory. As a result the stories became more fantastic the more they evolved, and how strongly they are based on fact is uncertain. There are many different viewpoints on the issue though, and some historians still have faith in the old legends.
The last invasion of Ireland occurred about 1000 B.C. by a Celtic race from the South, likely from the area of Spain. The books by O'Hart state that these people, the Milesians, were descended from King Milesius of Spain. Milesius, a great general/king, was instrumental in defending Egypt from the King of Ethiopia. He turned his attention northward to Ireland to fulfill an ancient Druidic prophecy during a 26 year famine that he believed was his punishment for not attempting to fulfill it earlier. He sent an army to explore the fertile island. When he found that his uncle had been murdered by three resident Irish Kings of the Tuatha de Danaan, Milesius gathered another army to take revenge. He died, though, before he embarked on the trip, leaving his remaining eight sons to conquer Ireland.
They named the land Scota or Scotia, after their mother. That name was taken and applied to Caladonia, now known as Scotland, when the Scots invaded there in the 5th century. One theory about the origin of the name Ireland is that it came from 'Ir-land,' the land of Ir, the second son of Milesius, and one who never made it to the Island, but whose son did and was allotted a share of the land.
The great Gaelic name of Curling emerged later in Connacht. In Scotland, bearers of the family name settled in the lands of Cunningham, just south of Glasgow, from about the year 1305, and at Tarbolton in Ayrshire. Kirley is a townland lying within the civil parish of Maghera, County Londonderry and Moybeg Kirley, derived from the Gaelic "Maigh Bheag" meaning "little plain" is a townland lying within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan, County Londonderry.
In about 1167 Dermott MacMurrough, King of Leinster, was defeated in a feud and requested aid from King Henry II of England, who opportunistically allowed him to enlist the help of his subjects. Richard de Clare, or Strongbow, became Dermott's greatest ally. He landed in Ireland in 1170 and solidified the earlier victories of other Norman Lords with the presence of his great force. The success of the Normans in Ireland prompted the King of England to arrive with his own army in 1172, and reaffirm the allegiance of his subjects, as well as establish himself as the overlord of the other kings and chiefs in Ireland. He succeeded, and in so doing, permanently linked England to the affairs of Ireland.
The Great Migration
In the New World the Irish played an important role in building the nation. They formed much of the labour force that built the railroads, coal mines, bridges and canals and they lent their culture to the arts, sciences, commerce and religion. Incidentally, there is a story that during the unsettled times of the 19th century, 9 rebellious Irishmen were sentenced to death. Their sentence was transferred to banishment to the colonies and in 1888, a surprised Queen Victoria learned that all nine had become prominent men in their new country, as statesmen, high court judges, mayors and bishops.
Early Settlers
- Robert B Curling, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1816 [1]
- Mr. Curling, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Norman Morrison"
More to follow shortly...............
