Courson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names. Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Courson family, who lived in Derbyshire. The family originally lived in Notre Dame de Curson in Calvados, Normandy. [1]

Early Origins of the Courson family

The surname Courson was first found in Derbyshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Curzon. Geraldine (Giraline) arrived in England with William the Conqueror in 1066 A.D., and attended him at Hastings. Giraline de Curson, Lord of Locking, in Berkshire, occurs amongst the most munificent benefactors to the Abbey of Abingdon. From him descended the Curzons of Croxhall. [1]

Geraldine came from Notre Dame de Curson in Calvados in Normandy. By 1086, the taking of the Domesday Book survey, his son Hubert had also acquired the lands of West Lockinge in Berkshire. The family also continued in Normandy and Hubert was the Lord of Curson in 1223. [2]

Robert of Courson or Courçon (also written de Curson, or Curzon) (c. 1160/1170 - 1219) was an English-born, scholar at the University of Paris and later a cardinal and papal legate.

"The Cursons of Dereham bear one of the oldest of Norfolk names. The ancient family of this name held large estates in the county from the 13th to the 15th century." [3]

Kedleston Hall in Kedleston, Derbyshire is one of the most well known family seats the Curzon family who have held the estate since 1297. Today it is a National Trust property. "The large and elegant mansion of Farnah Hall [in Duffield, Derbyshire], a seat of the Curzon family, stands in a fine park, near the Wirksworth road." [4]

Robert Curson, De Courcon, De Corcrone or De Curchun (d. 1218), was an early English Cardinal, "born at Kedleston in Derbyshire, was a member of a noble family. He is said to have studied at Oxford, and certainly did so at Paris, where he became a scholar of some eminence, and from Paris went to Rome." [5]

Early History of the Courson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Courson research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1599, 1609, 1611, 1640, 1648, 1657, 1678, 1682, 1686, 1687, 1727, 1750 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Courson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Courson Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Courson were recorded, including Curzon, Curson, Cursone, Courson, Courzon and others.

Early Notables of the Courson family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Curzon of Kedleston Hall, High Sheriff of Derbyshire (1609); and his son, Sir John Curzon, 1st Baronet (c.1599-1686), an English politician, Member of Parliament for...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Courson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Courson Ranking

In the United States, the name Courson is the 7,103^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [6] However, in France, the name Courson is ranked the 9,022^nd most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. [7]

Courson migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Courson arrived in North America very early:

Courson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Pierre Courson who settled in Louisiana in 1719
Pierre Courson, aged 17, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 [8]

Courson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Albert Courson, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
Albert Courson, aged 16, who landed in America from Bordeaux, in 1919
Pierre Courson, who landed in America, in 1919
R. S. Courson, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
Ralph Courson, aged 19, who settled in America, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Courson (post 1700) +

John E. Courson (b. 1944), American politician, Republican member of the South Carolina Senate
Stephen Paul "Steve" Courson (1955-2005), American NFL football guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1978-1983) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984-1985)
Pamela Susan Courson (1946-1974), American long-term companion of Jim Morrison, vocalist of The Doors
Olivier Courson (b. 1965), French film producer, former Chairman & CEO (Executive) of production and distribution company StudioCanal

The Courson Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Let Curzon holde what Curzon helde
Motto Translation: Let Curzon hold what Curzon held

Citations +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)