Northcote History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Northcote 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