Show ContentsCockshutt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Cockshutt name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Cockshut a small chapelry in the county of Salop. The distinguished name Cockshutt is derived from the Old English word of Coccscyute, when translated means the place where they stretched the nets to catch a small game bird called a woodcock.

Early Origins of the Cockshutt family

The surname Cockshutt was first found in Sussex, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Cockshutt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cockshutt research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1312, 1327, 1562, 1628 and 1794 are included under the topic Early Cockshutt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cockshutt Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Cockshutt were recorded, including Cockshut, Cockshot, Cockshoot, Cokshute, Cokshote, Cocshete, Cocke Shoute, Cockshutt, Cockshute, Cokschote and many more.

Early Notables of the Cockshutt family

More information is included under the topic Early Cockshutt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Cockshutt migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Cockshutt family emigrate to North America:

Cockshutt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Chas. Cockshutt, aged 29, who landed in America from London, in 1893
  • Hen. Cockshutt, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1893
Cockshutt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Walter Cockshutt, aged 18, who landed in America from Blackburn, in 1903
  • Prudence Cockshutt, aged 19, who landed in America from England, in 1907

Canada Cockshutt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cockshutt Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Edmund L. Cockshutt, aged 47, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1909
  • Isabelle Cockshutt, aged 40, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1909
  • Minnie G Cockshutt, aged 38, who settled in Brantford, Canada, in 1909
  • Wallace Cockshutt, aged 21, who settled in Brantford, Canada, in 1910
  • Frank Cockshutt, aged 52, who immigrated to Brantford, Canada, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Cockshutt migration to Australia +

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

Cockshutt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Edward Cockshutt, (b. 1820), aged 24, English black smith who was convicted in Preston, Lancashire, England for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 9th May 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1881 [1]
  • Mr. Henry Cockshutt who was convicted in Gibraltar for life, transported aboard the "Clara" on 19th March 1857, arriving in Western Australia, Australia [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Cockshutt (post 1700) +

  • Ignatius Cockshutt (1812-1901), English-born, Canadian immigrant to Canada with his parents in 1827 and rose to become a noted businessman and philanthropist
  • James G. Cockshutt (1851-1885), Canadian manufacturer, founder of the Cockshutt Plow Company, son of Ignatius Cockshutt, he died at the age of 34 from tuberculosis
  • Henry Cockshutt (1868-1944), born in Brantford, Ontario, 13th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (1921-1927), son of Ignatius Cockshutt
  • William Foster Cockshutt (1855-1939), Canadian politician, Member of the Canadian Parliament for Brantford (1904-1908), son of Ignatius Cockshutt


  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  2. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 11th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clara


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