Cowlte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
England

The Cowlte family name was first used by descendants of the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. It is a name for someone who lived in the barony of Colt or Cult in Perthshire.

Early Origins of the Cowlte family

The surname Cowlte was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland.

One of the first records of the family was William Culte de Strathawen, Lanarkshire, who took the oath of fealty, 1296. Years later, John Colti held land in barony of Lastalryk before 1365 and Thomas Colt is mentioned in Perth, 1440. 1

Another source notes "the Colts of co. Lanark derive from Blaise Coult, a French Huguenot refugee in the XVI. century." 2

Further to the south in Yorkshire, the Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Ricardua Colte; and Thomas Colt. And much further south, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Reginald le Colt, Salop (Shropshire); William le Colt, Wiltshire; and Ranulph Colt, Norfolk. 3

Early History of the Cowlte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cowlte research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1440, 1600, 1604, 1606, 1618 and 1835 are included under the topic Early Cowlte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cowlte Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Cowlte has been spelled Coult, Colt, Cult, Culte, Colte, Coulte and others.

Early Notables of the Cowlte family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Sir Robert Coult of Garthsherrie; and Samuel Colt of Hartford Conn. who invented the revolver in 1835. Maximilian Colt or Coult (fl. 1600-1618), was a sculptor, born at Arras in Flanders, and settled in England at the...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cowlte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cowlte family

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Cowlte: George Colt who settled in Virginia in 1654; John Colt settled in Massachusetts in 1633; Richard Colt settled in Virginia in 1656; John Godfrey Colte arrived in Philadelphia in 1753.

The Cowlte Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Transfigam
Motto Translation: I will transfix.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)