CURTAIN
Origins and Etymology The surname Curtain is of English, French and Irish origin. In English usage it is usually taken as an occupational name derived from the Old French cortine, meaning ‘curtain’ or ‘screen’. The name was likely applied to a maker or seller of curtains, or to a person who lived proximate to a physical curtain or screen. In Irish contexts the name is an anglicised form of Gaelic names such as Mac Cuirtáin or Ó Cortáin. These Gaelic forms stem from the personal byname Cuirtán or Cortáin, which are thought to mean ‘short’ or ‘follower of court’.
Historical Variants The surname has appeared in a number of orthographic variants. Recorded forms include MacCurtin, McCurtin, Curran, Curtin, Curtane, MacCurtany and Curtaine. In the 17th century Petty’s Census of Ireland lists the name as MacCurtaine and O’Curtaine, though the prefix Mac is now considered the correct form. The spelling Cartin or Cartan is normally associated with the distinct Northern Irish surname MacCartan, derived from the personal name Airt or Art.
Geographical Association The MacCuirtín clan is traditionally linked to the barony of Corcomroe in County Clare, where the family served as hereditary tutors or ollaves to the O’Brien dynasty of Thomond. By the 20th century the name was most common in County Cork. Today the surname Curtain remains comparatively frequent in Irish diaspora communities worldwide, particularly in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Notable Individuals Historical figures bearing the name include Andrew MacCurtin (1680–1755), a noted historian and poet; Thomas MacCurtin, who held the office of mayor of Cork during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1920); and John Joseph Curtin (1885–1945), former Prime Minister of Australia. The contemporary Irish political figure Tomas Mac Curtain, who was murdered by British forces in 1920, is also associated with the surname through the anglicised form MacCurtain.
Current Status In modern Ireland the most common spelling is Curtin, but Curtain and its various prefixes continue to be used. The surname’s prevalence within the southern provinces of Munster and Connacht reflects its historic roots. In English‑speaking countries the name is spelled in ways that preserve its original phonetics, although slight alterations such as Curteen or Curtan occasionally appear.
Typical given names associated with the Curtain surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Jonathan
- Lee
- Mark
- Paul
- Peter
Female
- Alison
- Annette
- Claire
- Emma
- Hannah
- Joanne
- Kim
- Mary
- Samantha
- Sarah
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Curtain in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 196 people named Curtain in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around three in a million people in Britain are named Curtain.
