Curtin is a
surname which is most common in the
Province of Munster in
Ireland. It takes several variant forms transliterated from the
Irish language, such as: Mac Cruitín, Mac Curtain or Ó Cruitin, most of which are anglicised as Curtin.
The literal translated meaning of the Irish elements of the name are Mac (Son of) + Cruit (Crooked, and by extension hunchback, or an old name of the harp, by inference to the shape of the
Irish harp) + -ín (signifying diminution), hence Little Hunchback, or Little Crooked One, but also Son of the Harp, or One associated with the art of the Irish Harp, which ties in with a traditional role in Gaelic culture.
It is believed there are multiple Curtin families with different origins, the most famous of which is the bardic family which stems from
Co. Clare. In the
census of 1659 in Counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick similar sounding names such as Mac Curatine and O' Curataine were treated as synonymous although they are not the same clan. Curtayne is a variant surname chiefly in south Munster.
Curtins from County Clare
In Clare, the Curtin family were located in
Corco Modhruadh (Corcomroe),[1] with their principal hereditary lands at Carrowduff in
Killaspuglonane[2] and others in Laghvally in
Kilmacrehy.[3] They were regarded as a distinguished, learned family, who served as hereditary historians to the
O'Briens of
Thomond and other notable local families, including Ó Conchubhair Corcomroe and Ó Lochlainn of
the Burren. With the fall of the Gaelic order, one branch remained in Corcomroe at
Clooney, but some of the senior familial line moved south into
Ibrickane, land retained by the
O'Briens, first leasing Tromra Castle[4] (c. 1615), then living around Moyglass[5] with a burial place at
Kilfarboy. They had patrons among the
Corcu Baiscind. The 17-18th century Irish language scholars and poets
Aindrias Mac Cruitín and
Aodh Buí Mac Cruitín were members of this family. The Curtins maintained a tradition of learning with a wider influence on literature and native learning in west Clare. Meic Cruitín schools operated in Magh Locha ós Linn Luimnigh (Molough)[6][7] near
Kilrush and Kilmacrechy[8] near
Ennistymon and
Thomas J. Westropp contended that the learning of
Eugene O'Curry was inherited from the earlier activities of the professional poets of Clann Cruitín.[9] The last member of the family with literary standing was
Seamus Mac Cruitín a poet, bard and
hedge school teacher, a forlorn figure, who worked for O'Curry collecting songs and poems.
Perhaps the most prominent descendant of the Curtins from Clare was
Andrew Gregg Curtin (1815/1817–1894) a U.S. lawyer and politician who served as the governor of Pennsylvania during the Civil War.
Curtins from County Cork
The origin of the Curtins of Cork is disputed. Curtins residing in the region are referenced are early as the 14th century in the medieval Irish text, Críchad an Chaoilli as Meic Coirtein o Baile Meig Coirtein & do mhuinntir Rathan iat sein ("the Mac Curtains of Ballymaccurtain, of the Rahan people these are"). They were hereditary proprietors in Fir Maige Féne (the barony of
Fermoy), Co. Cork, with their seat at
Rahan, a
townland and
Civil Parish[13] near
Mallow.
O'Hart held that O'Curtin (the
Irish: Ó Cuarthan) was Anglicised by some as "Jourdan". Also, following the
Battle of Kinsale Cork saw an influx of Ulster born Macartans, principally descendants of
Eachmilidh Mac Artáin, who had their surnames Anglicized as "Mac Curtain" or later as "Curtain",.[14] Members of this family included
Cornelius Curtain,
Fr. Cornelius Mac Curtain and
William Curtain. Perhaps the most famous descendant of the Cork Curtins is 20th century Australian Prime Minister
John Curtin (1885–1945).[citation needed]
List of people with the surname Curtin
Andrew Gregg Curtin (1817–1894), American lawyer and politician, 15th Governor of Pennsylvania
Green McCurtain, Principal Chief of the
Choctaw Nation whose surname came through Cornelius McCurtain from Co. Cork, who came to Spanish Florida in the 18th century.
Seán McCurtin, Seán (John) Patrick McCurtin (McCurtain, Mac Curtáin) (1896–1982), Irish politician
^Thomas J. Westropp, 'Ring-forts in the Barony of Moyarta, County Clare, and their legends. Part II - Kilkee to Carrigaholt', Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 3 (1909), pp 113–26, pp 120–1.
This page lists people with the
surnameCurtin. If an
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