Map of England showing where the Curcio arms are recorded
The Curcio arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Curcio arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Somerset.
Origin & History of the Curcio Family in England
The family name Curcio has deep roots that trace back to the southern regions of Italy, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname. The name is derived from the Latin word *curtus*, which means short or stunted. In medieval times, such names were often given to individuals based on their physical appearance or stature. By the year 1620, members of the family had established a presence in Somerset, England, suggesting that the family line had migrated across Europe during a period of significant movement and trade. These early settlers in Somerset likely integrated into the local agricultural or merchant communities, adapting their traditional Mediterranean surname to the English landscape. This transition highlights the resilience of the family as they moved from their ancestral Italian lands to build new lives in the West Country of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Curtius
Latin term meaning short or curtailed.
This name
CurcioDerived from an occupational or descriptive nickname for a person of short stature.
also spelled
Courcy
Curcy
DeCourcy
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Somerset Heritage Centre. Quarter Sessions Records, 1620. Reference Q/SR
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
