Show ContentsCuddel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Cuddel is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Cottle located in the hundred of Bradford in the county of Wiltshire. 1 One source presumes the name could have been originally from Normandy as there, William Cotel was listed (c. 1180-1195). 2

Early Origins of the Cuddel family

The surname Cuddel was first found in Wiltshire, where Beringarius Cotel was recorded in 1084. Later the Pipe Rolls of 1167 records Adam Cotella in Dorset. Eilwinus Kutel, Cutel was listed as a Knights Templar in Essex in 1185 and later, Walter Cotal was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Oxfordshire in 1206. 3 "The present representatives of the name of Cottle are evidently descended from the ancient Wiltshire family of Cottel, which originally owned much property, especially in the parish of Atford in the 13th century. 4 It is generally thought that Cottles in Wiltshire was named after the family. 5

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the family had spread to other shires: Elyas Cotel, Wiltshire; and Roger Cotel, Oxfordshire. 1 In Somerset, we found Robert Cothulle and John de Cothulle, both listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 6

Early History of the Cuddel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cuddel research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1167, 1185, 1206, 1327, 1518, 1522, 1523, 1605 and 1803 are included under the topic Early Cuddel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cuddel Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Cuddel are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Cuddel include: Cottle, Cottell, Cottel, Cothulle, Cuttil, Cuttles, Cotel, Cotella and many more.

Early Notables of the Cuddel family

Notables of the family at this time include Beringarius Cotel, a prominent 11th century Wiltshire landholder. John Cotell was the steward of Sir Edward Hungerford. He was strangled by his wife, Agnes at Farleigh Castle on 26 July 1518, with the aid of William Mathewe and William Inges, yeomen of Heytesbury, Wiltshire. Agnes then married Sir Edward shortly after her first husband's body was...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cuddel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Cuddel family to Ireland

Some of the Cuddel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cuddel family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Cuddel or a variant listed above: William Cottle, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1638.



  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. 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)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  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.


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