Curling originated in Scotland. Evidence points to the early 16th century there, with the sport evolving from stones slid across frozen ponds.

Earliest Evidence

A curling stone inscribed with 1511 was found in Dunblane, Scotland, alongside another from 1551—now housed in Stirling's museum. This marks the oldest physical proof of the game. Writings from 1541 also reference stone- throwing contests on ice at Paisley Abbey.

The term "curling" first appeared in print in 1620 in Perth, Scotland, in Henry Adamson's poem. Known as the "roaring game" for the stones' sound on pebbled ice, it captured the sport's lively essence early on.

Scottish Roots Deepened

Curling likely emerged in late medieval Scotland on frozen lochs and ponds. By 1716 in Perth, the first formal rules were reportedly written, standardizing play. Scottish immigrants spread it worldwide, including to Canada in the 18th century.

"Or up the rink like Jehu roar / In time o’ need" – Burns' verse nods to curling terms like "cock" (tee) and "wick," showing its cultural hold.

Global Spread and Myths

While Scotland birthed curling, some sources speculate Dutch origins over 400 years ago or early play in France via Scottish travelers. These remain minor notes against overwhelming Scottish evidence. Today, it's huge in Canada, but roots stay firmly Scottish.

Aspect| Scotland's Role| Key Dates & Finds
---|---|---
Physical Evidence| Dunblane pond stones| 1511, 1551 1
Written Record| Paisley Abbey; Adamson poem| 1541; 1620 23
Rules Codified| Perth clubs| 1716 9
Export to World| Via immigrants| 18th century+ 5

Wikipedia's Take

The English Wikipedia page on Curling dedicates its "History" section to these Scottish origins, citing the 1511 stone as pivotal. No credible challenges exist there—it's the go-to for this fact. Polish and other language versions echo this precisely.

TL;DR: Curling started in Scotland around 1511, with stones from Dunblane as proof—straight from Wikipedia and historical records.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.