Find out how popular the last name Curnow is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Curnow.

Curnow, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Curnow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Curnow in America

Curnow is the 23691st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Curnow surname appeared 1,069 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Curnow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Curnow to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Curnow

The surname Curnow is believed to have originated in Cornwall, England, a region known for its distinct Celtic heritage and linguistic traditions. It is thought to derive from the Cornish language, which was widely spoken in the area until the late 18th century.

One theory suggests that Curnow is derived from the Cornish words "ker" meaning "home" or "settlement" and "noe" meaning "new" or "fresh". This combination would translate to "new home" or "new settlement", possibly indicating that the name was originally given to someone who established a new homestead or village.

Another interpretation proposes that Curnow stems from the Cornish words "corn" meaning "horn" and "now" meaning "valley" or "creek". In this case, the name could have referred to a particular geographical feature, such as a horn-shaped valley or a settlement situated near a creek with a distinctive bend resembling a horn.

The earliest known record of the surname Curnow dates back to the late 16th century, appearing in various Cornish parish records and legal documents from that time period. One notable example is found in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, a series of documents recording the pledges of allegiance made by English subjects during the early stages of the English Civil War.

Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Cornow, Kernow, and Kernough, reflecting the influence of regional dialects and the gradual transition from Cornish to English as the dominant language in the area.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Curnow surname throughout history are:

1. William Curnow (1799-1865), a Cornish poet and writer known for his works in the Cornish language, such as "The Ancient Cornish Drama" and "The Curn Vilien".

2. John Curnow (1813-1897), a prominent Cornish mining engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the Cornish mining industry during the 19th century.

3. Erica Curnow (1855-1936), a British painter and illustrator known for her depictions of Cornish landscapes and rural scenes.

4. Thomas Curnow (1868-1945), a Cornish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives for the electorate of Wilmot from 1922 to 1931.

5. William Curnow (1892-1986), an English composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the brass band repertoire, including the famous march "Eb Tonic".

While the surname Curnow is predominantly associated with Cornwall and the surrounding regions, it has since spread across various parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, carried by generations of individuals with Cornish ancestry or those who migrated from the region over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Curnow

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Curnow.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Curnow was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Curnow has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Curnow was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Curnow, please contact us.

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