Show ContentsCoulthart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Coulthart family

The surname Coulthart was first found in Galloway (Gaelic: Gall-ghaidhealaibh), an area of southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, that formerly consisted of the counties of Wigtown (West Galloway) and Kirkcudbright (East Galloway.)

"Explained as from Coltard-Colt herd, Old English colt + hierde. Of the Coultharts of Galloway a ridiculous genealogy has been published, in which the family are traced to one Coulthartus, a Roman soldier who fought in the battle of Mons Graupius." 1

We prefer to say that this legendary origin is in question and while the phonetic comparison is undeniable, we concur that this origin of the name is quite dubious. One source claims the name was actually an occupational name as in 'the coltherd' 2 and another claims the name is from Coudhart, a village in the department of Orne, of Argentan in Normandy. 3

Early History of the Coulthart family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coulthart research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1467, 1530, 1602, 1619, 1627, 1657, 1663, 1666, 1684, 1686 and 1687 are included under the topic Early Coulthart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coulthart Spelling Variations

In Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Coulthart has been spelled Coltart, Colthart, Colthard, Colthert, Coltert, Coulthard and many more.

Early Notables of the Coulthart family

Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coulthart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coulthart family

Unrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them: Samuel Coltart who arrived in Philadelphia in 1841; Robert Coultart arrived in St. John Island 1775.


Contemporary Notables of the name Coulthart (post 1700) +

  • John Coulthart (b. 1962), British graphic artist, illustrator, author and designer


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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