Curtin (surname)

Curtin is a surname that comes from Ireland. Its form derives from the Irish language Mac Cruitín or O'Cruitin, anglicised as Curtin. It is believed there were two separate families known as Curtin originally, one in Co. Clare and another in Co. Cork.

In Clare, the Curtin family had Dalcassian origins, and were located in Corco Modhruadh (Corcomroe). They were regarded as a distinguished, learned family, who served as hereditary historians to the O’Briens of Thomond and other notable local families. The 19th century Irish language scholar and poet Aodh Buí Mac Cruitín was a members of this family .

The Cork family is referenced in a medieval Irish text, Críchad an Chaoilli (written before 1300) 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 near Mallow. Perhaps the most famous descendant of the Cork Curtins is Australian Prime Minister John Curtin (1885–1945).

List of people with the surname Curtin

• Andrew Gregg Curtin (1817–1894), American lawyer and politician, 15th Governor of Pennsylvania
• Brennan Curtin (born 1980), American football player
• Brian Curtin (born c. 1951), Irish barrister and judge
• Charles Curtin (1890–1967), English footballer
• Claude Curtin (1920–1994), Australian rules footballer
• Clyde A. Curtin, American flying ace in the Korean War
• Daniel R. Curtin (1855-1916), American businessman and politician
• Dan Curtin (1898–1980), Australian politician
• David Curtin, Irish hurling player
• David Yarrow Curtin, co-formulator of the Curtin–Hammett principle
• Deirdre Curtin (born 1960), Irish academic
• Don Curtin, American football player
• Hoyt Curtin (1922–2000), American composer and music producer
• James Michael Curtin (born 1983), better known as Rockstar Spud, English professional wrestler
• Jane Curtin (born 1947), American comedian and actress
• Jeff Curtin (born 1983), American soccer player
• Jeremiah Curtin (1835–1906), American folklorist and translator
• Jim Curtin (born 1979), American soccer player
• John Curtin (1885–1945), Australian politician, 14th Prime Minister of Australia
• John Curtin (U.S. politician) (c. 1865–1925), American politician, California state senator
• John I. Curtin (1837–1911), American general in the American Civil War
• John Thomas Curtin (born 1921), American judge
• Joseph Curtin, American violinmaker
• Kevin Curtin, New Zealand soccer player
• Luke Curtin (born 1977), American ice hockey player
• Lynne Curtin, American reality television personality, participant in The Real Housewives of Orange County
• Marie Curtin (born 1985), Irish footballer
• Matt Curtin (born 1973), American computer scientist
• Michael Curtin, American politician, member of the Ohio House of Representatives
• Peter Curtin (c. 1943–2014), Australian actor
• Philip D. Curtin (1922–2009), American historian
• Phyllis Curtin (born 1921), American soprano
• Pike Curtin (1907–1997), Australian sportsman and economist
• Ronda Curtin (born 1980), American ice hockey player
• Sean Curtin, American archer
• Valerie Curtin (born 1945), American actress and screenwriter
• Willard S. Curtin (1905–1996), American politician, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania