Clan Curley FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What do we know about the origins for the Curley family of Athlone/Westmeath?

Answer: We do not have anything definitive at this time, I have drafted a proposal for our most l ikely origin based upon genetic
evidence and historical information.

Question: How far back does the Curley surname go?

Answer:             It appears our specific Curley lineage has been using the name possibly as far back as the 1100s, we will be conducting DNA
                            that should prove conclusively that our branch has been using a variation of this name since approximately the 1100s - 1300s,
                            which will be estimated by looking at the genetic distance between tested males. We will be looking at specific SNPs not shared,
                            which can provide an estimated age of separation to the shared ancestor.

Question:          I read online that the Curley name comes from some Gaelic name in Oriel, can that be true?

Answer:            No, that is just some of the misinformation found online, the name being referenced is actually the Gaelicized form of O'Herrill,
                            it has absolutely nothing to do with Curley. This assertion goes directly against the DNA evidence and the fact that there is
                            nothing to connect the name Curley to a Gaelic name. The actual name that was Anglicezed from the cited Gaelic name is
                            O'Herrill, which coincidentally is from Ulster, or maybe not coincidentally since the proposal tries to linke a Curley family to
                            this specific area when there is no historical connection. O'Herrill is the Anglicized form of Ó hAirealla. As far as Curleys go,
                            there is another unrelated Curley lineage found under the SNPs M222>BY198, these Curleys appear to originate from the Gaelic
                            Egan/Keegan family. There does not appear to be any documented Curley lineage under the Egan/Keegan family so it's unclear
                            how they acquired the surname or when. What is clear is that the BY198 Curley family has been in the Galway area for a very
                            long time, they did not come from the north of Ireland and they are clearly a branch of Egan/Keegan family who have a long and
                            documented history in the Galway area, basically the territory of the Ui Maine. These other Curleys may have adopted it via
                            the Norman Curleys whose land they resided on under the de Burgh/Burkes. Our Curley ancestor was most likely part of the
                            Burke retinue and had been on those lands since the arrival of the de Burghs or shortly thereafter. In the service of the de Burgh
                            family, this is most likely where the townlands of Ballymacurly North and South come from, as well as Curley's Island on the Shannon.
                            There is ongoing DNA testing that will confirm the length of time the Athlone-Westmeath Curleys have been using the surname
                            and it will conclusively put this to rest once and for all, completely dismantling the false "out of Oriel" narrative. There is no doubt
                            the A6119 Curleys (now having the SNP BY94381) are the original Curleys, most likely arriving with the Anglo Normans.

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