Wikipedia

Curtin (surname)

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

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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.

Genealogy of Mac Cruitín[10][11][12][note 1]
OllamhanAithbhleitheDeághaCuirc RuaidhFearghusa
MoDhruadh
a quo
Corco Modhruadh		AithbhleitheAodha GnaiAodha CuirbNeachtainMeic ConEircMeasain Súilléith
BrógáinLabáinnSeanáinLonáinCarrthainnFraoichOsgairMeasain Duinn
Cruitín
file
a quo Mac Cruitín		Maile RuánSaorbreathachSáortúileMudhnaAltánConchubharFlann
Aodh ÓgAodhConchubharAodhGiolladh
Chríost
SolamhConchubhar
ConchubharCriomhthann
SeanchadhSoladh
FearbiseachAn Cosnamhach
EolusRolond
CriomhthannSeánAindrias
died 1738
Aodh
na Tuinne		Tadhg
ConchubharConchúir
Conchubhar ÓgCríostóra
Aodh Buidhe
died 1755		Tadhg
Seamus
died 1870

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

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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

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List of people with the variants of the surname

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Genealogy continued on genealogy of O'Connor CorcoMruad as instructed in the manuscript quoted on page 8 of "The origins of Clann Chruitín".

References

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  1. ^ Clann Chruitin clarelibrary.ie
  2. ^ "Townlands in Killaspuglonane".
  3. ^ "Townlands in Kilmacrehy". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Tromracastle Townland, Co. Clare".
  5. ^ The townlands of Moyglass More https://www.townlands.ie/clare/ibrickan/kilmurry/mullagh/moyglass-more/ and Moyglass Beg https://www.townlands.ie/clare/ibrickan/kilmurry/mullagh/moyglass-beg/ in Kilmurray Parish.
  6. ^ T.F. O'Rahilly, 'A Poem by Piaras Feiritéar', Ériu, 13 (1942), pp 113–8, pp 114 & 116.
  7. ^ "Molougha Townland, Co. Clare".
  8. ^ University College Dublin Archive, Ms La38/50.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ The origins of Clann Chruitín: chronicler-poets of the learned Gaelic tradition,Luke McInerney, http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/literature/Clann_Chruitin.pdf
  11. ^ Glac de Dhánta Shéamais Mhic Cruitín, http://corpas.ria.ie/index.php?fsg_function=5&fsg_id=2065&fsg_lang=g
  12. ^ Tadhg Ó Donnchadha,"An Leabhar Muimhneach", 1900, page 254, https://archive.org/details/leabharmuimhneac01odon/page/254
  13. ^ "Townlands in Rahan".
  14. ^ Curtin, D. P. (June 2021). "History of the Curtins".
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