Clan Curley History

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

Update - We can confirm our Curley family is not paternally related to the McKerrells of Scotland. This had been considered due to the similarities between
the spelling for what are most likely early variations of the Curley surname and McKerrell.

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 possibley 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. There is currently testing ongoing to narrown down the genetic distance found in this family. I suspect the family and surname arrived in Ireland prior
    to 1400, but after 1169. What we know for certain is the surname was not acquired through adoption of the surname from some other unrelated group or family.
    The 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, any information that states otherwise can be easily and thoroughly debunked. There is a version of a
    name some have tried to link to Curley but the Gaelic name being referenced is actually referring to the O'Herrill family, it is not referring to any Curley family. .How
    someone could "confuse" the Gaelic name for O'Herrill as a variation of an early form of Curley is unfortunate but our goal is to refute and debunk such
    misinformation which has been done.

5. All evidence supports that our specific Curley family never had a Gaelic origin and we are not native Irish, at least not prior to the Norman invasion. There is
    actually testing pending that should solidify the number of years our Curley family has been using the name or a variant of the name. I am hopeful we will be able
    to make a big annoucement in the days ahead, there is testing ongoing to determine approximately how far back the lineage goes under the shared surname. I am
    expecting to see a date back to at least 1350 AD, but it could be even further. We should know more in the days ahead.

As of this writing, the most likely origin for our family is the de Curly family formerly of Budbrook Warwickshire. This family held several estates in England but fell
on very difficult times and eventually lost everything. It's logical that one male descendant would have gone to Ireland looking for a new start in the Norman held
Irish midlands. We have distant DNA matches with several Norman surnames who held control of the midlands and we have DNA matches with others who remained
in England. Our DNA SNP splits under A6119 mirror both the 1066 invasion and the Anglo Norman invasion. These facts cannot be ignored. With regard to the Curley
surname origin, the most obvious source is Curly or Curli, it's that simple. Curley did not originate from a Gaelic name, it's always been Curly or Curli going back to
before the Normans arriving in Britain. You will not find any Gaelic name that is the source for our family, I'm quite certain of that. There was a period when the name
was in flux, as referenced by later spellings of M'Kerryle or other variants but then the name reverted back to its origin forms of Curley or Curly.

There are two possible points of origin for our Curley family that are more likely than any other proposal, they are Creully Normandy or Criel-sur-Mer. They are also
very close to each other in Normandy. Unfortunately there are very strict regulations against DNA testing in France, this is probably why we still do not have a DNA
match to our family back in Normandy. In addition, the only way we will pick up new DNA matches to someone back on the Continent is through Big Y testing because
the genetic distance is too great to show up in the standard YDNA testing results and the matching criteria. Remember we would have split from those families around
1066 AD. This is why we have not found our smoking gun Continental match yet however, I am hopeful that will change one day in the near future.

Disclaimer:
The information contained in this website is for informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained within. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website or the information contained within.