Cowdrey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Cowdrey is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Cowdrey family lived in Berkshire. The name, however, refers to the area of Cordray, in Eure, Normandy, where the family lived prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. "Benedict de Coudray was witness to a charter of Roger de Menilwarin to Deulacresse Abbey (Mon. ii.) and Fulco de Coudray held one fee from Abingdon Abbey." 1

Early Origins of the Cowdrey family

The surname Cowdrey was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where John de Coudray (no county) was listed. A few years later, the Writs of Parliament listed William de Coudraye, 1307. 2

Early History of the Cowdrey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cowdrey research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1577, 1588, 1590, 1600, 1616, 1618, 1619, 1664 and 1684 are included under the topic Early Cowdrey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cowdrey Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Cowdrey include Cowdrey, Cowdray, Cowderey, Cowderoy, Corderoy, Cordroy, Cowdroy, Cowdry, Cowdery and many more.

Early Notables of the Cowdrey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Abbott Monsire Cowdrey; and Daniel Cawdry (Cawdrey) (1588-1664), an English clergyman, member of the Westminster Assembly. He was the youngest son of Robert Cawdry. 3

Cowdrey migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Cowdreys to arrive on North American shores:

Cowdrey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Cowdrey who settled in Lynn Massachusetts in 1630
Edward Cowdrey, who landed in Maryland in 1662 4
William Cowdrey, who arrived in Maryland in 1670 4

Cowdrey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anne Cowdrey, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1763 with her three children

Cowdrey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J B Cowdrey, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 4

Cowdrey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mrs. T. Cowdrey, aged 24, who immigrated to New York, in 1907
T. Cowdrey, aged 28, who immigrated to New York, in 1907
Thomas O. Cowdrey, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Charles Cowdrey, aged 28, who settled in America from Maidenhead, England, in 1910
Leonarda Cowdrey, aged 18, who settled in Orange New Jersey, in 1913
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cowdrey (post 1700) +

Charles E. "Charlie" Cowdrey (1933-2011), American college football coach
Albert E. Cowdrey, American fantasy and science fiction author, nominated for the 2009 World Fantasy Awards
Peter A. Cowdrey, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County, 1836 5
Judy Cowdrey, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 1988 5
Buzz Cowdrey, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 1988 5
Graham Robert Cowdrey (1964-2020), English cricketer, the third son of the cricketer Colin Cowdrey
Fabian Cowdrey, English cricketer, the third generation in his family to play cricket for Kent County Cricket Club
Christopher Stuart "Chris" Cowdrey (b. 1957), former English cricketer
Michael Colin Cowdrey CBE (1932-2000), Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, Indian-born, English cricket player, Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team
Matthew John "Matt" Cowdrey OAM (b. 1988), Australian twelve-time gold, five-time silver medalist swimmer

Citations +

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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html