Cottay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Cottay is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a person who held the religious office of Arch Deacon. 1

"An eminent Cornish family in the XIV. cent. wrote themselves Archdekne. The cognate name Archidiacre occurs in France, from which country the English family would appear to have migrated, since three chevrons form the main feature of the arms of both families, as well as of another English family named Archidecknie." 2

Early Origins of the Cottay family

The surname Cottay was first found in the counties of Cornwall and Devon where they settled soon after the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D. In Normandy, the family name was Archidiace, 3 which seriously questions the popular concept that the family name is derived from the office of Archdeacon.

"The manor called Bodwen, [in Helland, Cornwall] was held at an early period by the family of Archdekne, under the prior of Bodmin, as connected with his large manor of Rialton. This passed from the Archdeknes to the Courtenays, in marriage with an heiress of the former family." 4

The manor of Landegy, in the parish of Kea, Cornwall "belonged at a very early period to the family of the Archdeknes, for so early as the reign of Edward II. From this family it passed by female heirs to the Courtnays and Carews." 4

"In the year 1335, a market was granted to John Archdekne, to be held at a place called Shepestall, which some have supposed to have been in this parish; and when Thomas Archdekne was summoned to parliament in the reign of Edward I. he is described as of Shepestall. It is well known that this ancient family had their residence and also considerable possessions in this parish; and a field not far from its borders still bears the name of Little Shepestall; but the name of the ancient seat seems to have been forgotten." 4

William de le Archdeacon was listed in Norfolk in early times 5 and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1370 listed Johannes Archedeken et uxor. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Thomas le Arsdekene, Hertfordshire; and Adam Ercedekne, Suffolk. 1

Early History of the Cottay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cottay research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1619 and 1690 are included under the topic Early Cottay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cottay Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Archdeacon, Archdekin, Archdekyne, Arcedeckne, Archdecon, Archdicken, Ercadkne, Erchdeacon, Erchdekine, Archdeakin and many more.

Early Notables of the Cottay family

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

Migration of the Cottay family to Ireland

Some of the Cottay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cottay family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Cottay or a variant listed above: William Archdeacon who arrived in Maryland in 1741; John Archdeacon in Pennsylvania in 1772; and Dennis Archdeacon in Philadelphia in 1851; Kathryn Arch-deacon landed in America in 1704.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print