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

Curtin, 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 Curtin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Curtin in America

Curtin is the 3725th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Curtin surname appeared 9,513 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Curtin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Curtin 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 Curtin

The surname Curtin originated in Ireland, likely in the 15th or 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "Ó Cuirtin," which means "descendant of Cuirtin." The name Cuirtin itself is thought to be a diminutive form of the word "curt," meaning "courteous" or "polite."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Curtin can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The Annals mention several individuals with the surname Curtin, including John Curtin, who was killed in a battle in 1548.

The Curtin surname was particularly prevalent in County Cork and County Kerry, where many families bearing this name lived for generations. Some notable individuals with the surname Curtin from this region include Sir Edmond Curtin (1542-1624), an Irish lawyer and judge, and Jeremiah Curtin (1835-1906), an American linguist and translator who specialized in Irish and Native American languages.

Another significant figure in the history of the Curtin surname is John Curtin (1885-1945), who served as the 14th Prime Minister of Australia during World War II. Born in Creswick, Victoria, Curtin played a crucial role in leading Australia's war effort and strengthening the country's alliance with the United States.

In the United States, the Curtin surname can be traced back to Irish immigrants who arrived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. One notable American with this surname was Andrew Gregg Curtin (1817-1894), who served as the Governor of Pennsylvania during the American Civil War and played a significant role in supporting the Union cause.

Other notable individuals with the surname Curtin include Kathleen Curtin (1884-1968), an American educator and author, and Michael Curtin (born 1954), an Irish-born Australian businessman and philanthropist.

While the Curtin surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread across the globe, with families bearing this name found in countries such as Australia, the United States, and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Curtin

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

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 Curtin 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 Curtin 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 Curtin was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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