Corps History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Corps come from its first bearer, who was a dark-haired person. In Yorkshire and Suffolk, the surname Corps is derived from the Old Norse word korpr, which means raven; in Oxfordshire, the surname is derived from the Old French word corp, which has the same meaning. 1

Early Origins of the Corps family

The surname Corps was first found in Yorkshire, where Walter le Corp was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1177. Later, William le Corp was listed at Oseney, Oxfordshire in 1231 and later again, James Corp was found in Suffolk in 1297. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one listing for the family, Stephen de Corp, Lincolnshire 3 and similarly Somerset had only one: John Corp, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 4

In Dartmouth, Devon, "Special need of defence is shown in the license granted to John Corp to embattle his house at the entrance of the harbour ; and it is a point worth noting That in the adjoining church of Stoke Fleming, the oldest brasses in the county are to John Corp (1361), and to Elyenore, presumably a Corp also (1381)." 5

Early History of the Corps family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Corps research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1231, 1273, 1293, 1297, 1744 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Corps History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Corps Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Corps has been spelled many different ways, including Corp, Corps, Corpe and others.

Early Notables of the Corps family

More information is included under the topic Early Corps Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Corps migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Corpss to arrive in North America:

Corps Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George Corps, who sailed to San Francisco in 1851
George Corps, aged 33, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)