Surname Curlee - Meaning and Origin
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Curlee: What does the surname Curlee mean?
The last name Curlee is of English origin. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words “curle” and “lea” which together translate to “curl meadow." It was historically used as a topographic name, referring to a person who lived by a small, curving patch of land.
The surname Curlee could be found in records showing up as early as the 13th century. These records often appear in western England and the Midlands. As English surnames were rarely inherited, there were likely many different people with this last name.
The Curlee surname has evolved and adapted itself to various spellings over the years, including Curley, Curly, Carley, and Kerley. The surname can also take various forms depending on language and location. In some instances it was even changed to Kriel.
The Curlee surname is extremely popular in the United States and the United Kingdom. It has experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 21st century. For example, there are several notable people who bear the Curlee surname, including American football player Richard Curlee and actress Kristin Curlee.
Overall, the last name Curlee has grown steadily over the years and has spread to many corners of the world. It is a unique name that is steeped in history and is increasingly becoming more common in the modern day.
Order DNA origin analysisCurlee: Where does the name Curlee come from?
The last name Curlee is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the name is most prevalent in the Southern region, particularly in states such as Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina. This is likely due to the migration of British immigrants to those areas during the colonial period.
In Canada, the name is most frequently seen in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as in the territory of Nunavut. Approximately half of all Canadian Curlees are located in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The name is also found scattered throughout Europe, with the highest occurrences in parts of Spain and France. In total, the name is present in six European countries, thirteen states and provinces in the United States and Canada, and in seven territories and countries across the world.
Historically, the use of the Curlee name appears to have been concentrated in the British Isles, particularly in Scotland and Ireland. The first recorded instance of the Curlee surname was in Ireland in the 13th century. However, the name can be traced to Scotland in the 1500s, indicating that the name is British in origin.
Today, the Curlee name is still relatively rare, but through family lines of descent can continue to be passed down through the generations.
Variations of the surname Curlee
The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for Curlee are:
Curle, Curley, Curly, Corlee, Corley, Cearly, Cearley, Carlee, Carley, Curleigh, Corleigh and Cearleigh.
The Curlee surname can also be found in various forms and in different countries. In France, it is spelt as Curé; in Germany, it could be Kürli; in Scotland, it is Curla and in the Netherlands, it is spelled as Kürle. Curlee is a common English surname derived from the French personal name ‘Curlieu’.
The variation in the spelling of this name is due to the many ways in which English and other languages have adopted it and adapted it over the centuries. It is believed that the family with this surname came from Normandy and went to the north and to England with the Normans in the 11th century.
The older version of Curlee may also spell as Curlee, Curless, Curles, Curliss, Curlie, and Curally. There isn’t any single source or origin to explain all the varied spellings of this surname, which demonstrates its evolution over time.
It is quite possible that the individual who wrote down the name before it became standardized used an incorrect spelling and that is what we have today. In the same way, the original spelling may have been lost in translation when the name was adopted in another language.
The Curlee surname is also associated with several meanings, such as descendant of Curley, curly-headed, curly-haired, small knight, or marsh dweller. It is an interesting and varied surname that hass a long history and many different branches and spelling variations.
Famous people with the name Curlee
- Mike Curlee: Comedian, actor and writer.
- Ella Emhoff: Model and stepdaughter of Vice President Kamala Harris.
- Celeste Curlee: Apartheid era black South African actress and playwright.
- Kyrsten Sinema: United States Senator from Arizona.
- Anissa Curlee: American professional basketball player.
- Ashton Curlee: American actress, writer and producer.
- Danny Ray Curlee: Former NFL defensive back.
- Kyle Curlee: Kornbass player and songwriter.
- Alison Curlee: Former president of the Texas Tech University System.
- Wes Curlee: American bass guitarist and singer.