Currier

This rare and interesting name is of Norman French origin, introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. The surname is an occupational name for a leather-dresser, derived from the Old French term "conreeur", currier, in Middle English and medieval French "corier", ultimately derived from the Latin "coriarius", a derivative of "corium", leather. A leather-dresser was someone who dressed and coloured leather after it had been tanned. The development of the surname includes: Henry le Coureer (1281, London), William le Coureour (1314, Devon), William Curreyour (1375, Essex), Andrew Curier (1400, Yorkshire) and Joyce Corryer (1578, Herefordshire). The modern surname can be found as Corryer, Curryer, Currier and Corroyer. The French form of the name is recorded in the 17th Century: one Philippe Corroies married Jacqueline Sie, in Lille, on September 18th 1632. Mary Corroyer and Charles Barnard were married in London in 1730. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard le Curur (witness), which was dated 1256, in the "Northumberland Assize Rolls", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.