Clan Curley History

As of 4/11/2026, a possible major update may be coming in the days/weeks ahead, stay tuned.

As we progress through 2026, the possible origin for our Curley family is starting to come into focus. There are a number of scientific facts, and quite a bit of possible speculation. The goal for this lineage is to stick to the facts but we will also offer some possibilities, as we've done since this started back in about 2015. We have learned quite a bit since then, it's been a worthwhile journey filled with discovery. At this point in time, the most likely origin for the Athlone/Westmeath Curleys is through a Norman progenitor, who arrived during the Anglo-Norman invasion. It is uncertain if this was a known entity, for instance a Norman de Curley, de Criol or Kyriel but what is clear is this family has deep ancestory with a pocket of Norman surnames and the DNA evidence supports their entry into Ireland as part of the Norman arrival. An ancient Irish origin for this family seems extremely unlikely and we are not connected to any other known population groups for over 3800 years. What this means is that we do not descend from any known Irish group, tribe, dynasty, surname, etc. While we do have other Irish surnames in our ancient genetic tree, they are not closely related and they are not representative of the main family for those surnames. Several of those Irish surnames are most likely Norman surnames that were Gaelicized, for instance Tully and Flood actually coming from a Norman Tilley. This was a very common practice for the Normans as they mixed into the Irish landscape and culture. This is very similar to what they did when they arrived in France, as Vikings. What is not known is whether we are Normans of Viking descent, or Normans who were from a Gaulic family that had been there when the Vikings arrived. Many of these Gaulic families became part of the Norman culture, and part of their aristocracy. These Normans of Gaulic descent made up a large percentage of the knights and soldiers that participated in the invasion of 1066, when the Normans arrived in Britain. Both an ancient tribal identify in Gaul or a Viking group are possible candidates, but what is most apparent at this time is the Curley progenitor arrived as a Norman. What is also possible but probably less likely is the first Curley in Ireland arrived as a Viking, 200+ years before the Norman invasion,
however this seems far less likely considering we may have discovered the source of our name. I would expect additional surname matches and an ancient remains discovery matching the lineage to ultimately resolve this question about our more ancient origins.

Let's start with some of the facts:

1. Through extensive DNA testing, we have mapped our YDNA SNPs going back thousands of years. Our focus now is really from about 250 CE/AD through the
1500s.What we are really looking for is a historical point of origin, where were the Curleys before they arrived in Ireland and when did they arrive in Ireland.

2. While overall YDNA testing has been quite minimal, there are some clear patterns emerging. The branching under our greater A6119 tree shows clear splits that
    mirror the Norman invasion of Britain and the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland and our family is historically found in the Norman stronghold of Athlone and
    Westmeath. Our lineage appears to have experienced burts of growth during both of these invasions. Because of this and several surnames that appear to be of a
    Norman origin found under our A6119 tree, the Norman origin seems most likely at this time. Possible Norman surnames found under our A6119 tree include
    Curley (possibly from de Curli but more likely from de Criol/Kyriel), Burke (but not of the main de Burgh family), Petty, Constant, Whittle, Best and Tilley.When
    you consider how small a group we have thus far under the SNP A6119, is tends to support a possible Norman origin over an ancient Gaelic one. However,
    this starts to get into speculation and we would prefer to stay with the facts and simply offer some logical proposals.

3. We have a deep and long history in the Athlone and Westmeath area, most likely going back to the Anglo Norman invasion or possible the later Edward Burke
    invasion. Nearly all of the Irish surname matches we have under A6119 are historically found in the midlands, in the territory of the ancient Ui Maine'. The evidence
    however seems to point to a more recent arrival,and not of an ancient population group that lived in the Ui Maine' territory prior to the arrival of the Anglo Normans.
    The homeland for our Curley family is right in the de Burgh/Burke controlled lands, from Athlone all the way up to Ballyhaunis County Mayo. I do not believe that
    is a coincidence.

4. We have DNA testing results the demonstrate the Athlone/Westmeath Curley family has been using this surname or a variant of it since at least the 1400s, most
    likely earlier. This estimattion has been verified via targeted SNP testing and calculating years based upon unmatches SNPs. YDNA str variance also supports
    this time frame, it actually puts the date back even further so we're pretty confident about this date range and suspect it is even further back. I suspect the family
    and surname arrived in Ireland prior to 1400, but after 1169. With that said, the goal here to try and stay away from speculation. What we know for certain is
    the surname was not acquired through adoption of the surname from some other unrelated group or family. These Athlone/Westmeath Curleys are the original
    Curleys in this area and did not acquire the surname from some other group. This is absolutely no sound evidence to support the surname came from another area
    of Ireland, that typical internet misinformation and can be easily debunked. There is a version of a name that some have tried to link to Curley but that Gaelic name
    is actually referring to the O'Herrill family, it is not referring to a Curley.How someone could "confuse" the Gaelic name for O'Herrill for Curley and then claim they
    moved to Athlone and that is where Curley came from is both disingenuous and unfortunate.

5. All evidence supports that our specific Curley family never had a Gaelic origin, we are not native Irish. There is actually testing pending that may provide a big piece
    to the puzzle but for now we can be certain our Curley family and their name did not come from some Gaelic name. In fact, the name proposed by one internet
    source doesn't even have any connection to Curley, the Gaelic name referenced as being connected to a version of Curley is actually the Gaelicized version of the
    name O'Herill. It is truly amazing the misinformation that can be found on the internet and it is truly a disservice to our name and our family. It's only a matter of time
    before we have the final pieces of the puzzle and put them in place. I am hopeful once the final conclusive evidence is presented, the party responsible for posting
    the nonsensical Curley origin information will remove it once and for all.

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