Surname Curray - Meaning and Origin

Curray: What does the surname Curray mean?

The last name Curray is of Scottish origin, and was derived from the Celtic surname MacIndeor which means “son of the red-haired one”. It is thought to have originally come from the Pictish people who lived in the eastern part of Scotland prior to the establishment of the Scottish kingdom.

The early records of this name date back to the 1300s, with references to the surname existing as early as 1350, when Robert Makinindeor of Perthshire was recorded in the Kelso Chartulary. Other common spellings of the Curray name over the centuries include Corrie, MacIndeor, Corrieach, Makindeor, Correiach, and MacEnnteoir.

The main geographical regions of the Curray surname’s early development included Aberdeenshire, Sutherland, and Perthshire, although members of the family eventually spread throughout most of Scotland. Today, the surname is still found across Scotland, as well as in other parts of the world, such as the United States and Canada, due to diaspora of Scots during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Curray surname is known for its strong sense of family and community, with many members of the family working as shepherds, farmers, and seamen when they settled in Scotland. The stain of the surname also lives on through the preservation of ancient Scottish culture, with many of the early Currays being active participants in the Highland Games and other Gaelic-inspired events.

Curray: Where does the name Curray come from?

The surname Curray appears to be of Scottish origin, possibly derived from the Gaelic term MacMhuirich, which means "son of the sea-man." This name is associated with the Isle of Lewis clan. However, it is worth noting there is limited historical documentation available to firmly establish the lineage of the Curray surname.

Moreover, the surname Curray possibly could be a variated spelling of more common surnames like Curry or Currie, which also have origins in Scotland and Ireland.

Today, the surname Curray is quite rare and not highly concentrated in any specific region. Given the Scottish origin, it is likely to be found in areas heavily influenced by Scottish migration, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However, without specific data, it's difficult to establish where the Curray surname is currently most common.

Variations of the surname Curray

The surname Curray is somewhat unique and not commonly seen. It potentially could have originated from Curry, which is a more widely recognized surname, of Celtic origin. Some possible spelling variations for Curray could be Currey, Curay, Currah, and Curra.

There are additional alternate spellings for Curry that include the variants Currie, Currey, Curri, Curey, or Curree. In some cases, it may also be Kerray, Corray or Kurray depending on local dialects and accents.

Alongside these varied spellings, MacVurich, MacVurie, MacVuire and MacCurry are surnames of the same origin stem from the Gaelic MacMhuirich, which means "son of Murich."

It's also worth noting that various spellings of a surname within the same family were common due to illiteracy in the past. Both regional dialects and accents could further affect the way surnames sounded, leading to more variations in their spelling. Therefore, when researching family history, one should consider all possible spelling variations.

In essence, the surname Curray and its variations carry a rich history and involve elements from different cultures, predominantly Gaelic and Celtic.

Famous people with the name Curray

• Ruth Curray: journalist, newspaper editor, and business woman who published the 'New York Evening Post'.
• Niall Curray: professional cricket player who turned coach after playing in the national team of Scotland.
• Robert Curray: former president of the United States of America (1971-1972).
• William Curray: Australian politician who served as opposition leader from 1976: 1983.
• Rosamund Curray: British author, best known for her novels 'The Gorgeous Girls' and 'A Charmed Life'.
• Michael Curray: former basketball player for the University of Alabama in the late 1960s.
• Harry Curray: British actor who won the BAFTA for his role in the film 'The Spy Who Dumped Me'.
• Carroll Curray: American baseball player who most notably played for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1950s.
• Jordyn Curray: musician, singer and songwriter best known for her hit single 'Forgotten'.
• Sharon Curray: actor and producer best known for her role in the television series 'Grey's Anatomy'.

Other surnames

Curran