Show ContentsCurras History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Curras

What does the name Curras mean?

The origin of the name Curras is uncertain. It may be a toponymic name derived from one of the places in Ireland called Curragh, the most famous of which is the Curragh of Kildare. The Gaelic word "curach" meaning "champion" or "hero" could also have been the origin of the name. Finally, in some cases, the name is of Scottish origin and is the Irish form of MacCurrach, a sept of the MacPherson clan.

Early Origins of the Curras family

The surname Curras was first found in the southern part of County Down, and the northern part of Louth, where Thomas Curragh, a farmer of Kilpatrick, was recorded in 1428 in a case in Archbishop Swayne's register. In the following century the name was found in and near Dublin. Richard Curragh was a farmer of Raheny in 1561, and another Richard Curragh was a member of the Merchant Tailor's Guild, and was made a freeman of Dublin city in 1589. The Curragh of Kildare is an expanse of plains land, famed for horse riding and races, that has been used for military purposes since antiquity.

Early History of the Curras family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Curras research. More information is included under the topic Early Curras History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Curras Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Curragh, Curra, Currah and others.

Early Notables of the Curras family

More information is included under the topic Early Curras Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Curras migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Curras Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francisco Curras, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1869 1


The Curras Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Touch not the cat, but a glove


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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