Show ContentsNorthcutt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Northcutt surname is a habitational name, taken on from any of several places, such as Northcott in Devon. These place names are derived from the Old English words "norð," meaning "north," and "cot," meaning a "cottage," or "shelter." 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Northcutt family

The surname Northcutt was first found in Devon at Northcote (Northcott), a hamlet, in the parish of Boyton, union of Holsworthy, hundred of Black Torrington. The surname claims descendancy "from Galfridus, who was of Northcote, in the parish of East-Downe, in the twelfth century." 4

"Pynes, in Upton Pyne, the present seat of the Northcote family (who were at Northcote in East Downe as early as the year 1103), came to them by the marriage of Sir Henry Northcote, the fifth Baronet, with the heiress of Stafford. Hence the additional name of Stafford, so familiar in the title of the Earl of Iddesleigh when he was Sir Stafford Northcote. Prior to acquiring Pynes, the Northcotes were at Hayne, in the parish of Newton St. Cyres. Here lived Sir John Northcote, the first Baronet of the family, a member of the Long Parliament, who left behind him a volume of notes on the proceedings of that body, and served as colonel for the Parliament in the earlier part of the Civil War. The Northcotes were allied with some of the most distinguished houses of the West, and with the Plantagenets. By marrying heiresses they extended their own importance and possessions ; and among the families they thus represent are Helion, Meoles, Mamhede, Drew, Haswell, and Stafford." 5

"The Northcotts of Devonshire originally took their name from several hamlets in the county. The principal family is that of the very ancient and distinguished house of Northcote of Pynes, which received its baronetcy in 1620, and was lately ennobled in the person of Sir Stafford Northcote. The name is also established in Cornwall." 6

By the time the of Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a Lincolnshire branch was established as Amyas de Northcote and Amicia de Northcotes were registered there at that time. 1

Early History of the Northcutt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Northcutt research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1103, 1570, 1587, 1599, 1628, 1632, 1640, 1648, 1674, 1676, 1688, 1710, 1730, 1743 and 1752 are included under the topic Early Northcutt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Northcutt Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Northcott, Norcott, Norcutt, Northcutt, Northcote and others.

Early Notables of the Northcutt family

Notables of the family at this time include John Northcote (d.1587), a cloth merchant of Crediton; and his son, John Northcote (1570-1632), of Uton and Hayne, Newton St Cyres, near Crediton, Devon, Lord of the Manor of Newton St Cyres; Sir John Northcote, 1st Baronet (1599-1676), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1640 and 1676; Sir...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Northcutt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Northcutt Ranking

In the United States, the name Northcutt is the 5,392nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 7


Australia Northcutt migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Northcutt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Northcutt (aged 19), a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
  • Mr. James Northcutt, (b. 1837), aged 19, English carpenter from Devon, England, UKtravelling from Plymouth, Devon, UK aboard the ship "Aliquis" arriving in Adelaide, Australia on 26th August 1856 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Northcutt (post 1700) +

  • William H. Northcutt, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 19th District, 1873-75 9
  • Wanda L. Northcutt, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arkansas, 1996 9
  • Mrs. Ralph W. Northcutt, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1924 9
  • M. C. Northcutt, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1956 9
  • Lila Dooley Northcutt (b. 1886), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1948 9
  • Joe Northcutt, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1948 9
  • Homer J. Northcutt, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Covington, Kentucky, 1935-38 9
  • Frances M. Northcutt, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Judge of Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, 1994, 1996 9
  • Glenn Northcutt, American leader in comparative vertebrate neurobiology and evolutionary neuroscience
  • Wendy Northcutt (b. 1963), the creator of the Darwinawards.com website and author of five books on the Darwin Awards
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  5. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. The Ships List Passenger Lists Ship Aliquis (Retrieved 26th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/aliquis1856.shtml
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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