Coulter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 


The forbears of the name Coulter are thought to be of the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The name indicates that the first bearer lived in or near Coulter in Lanarkshire or Aberdeenshire, in Scotland. The surname Coulter is derived from the Gaelic phrase, cúl tir, which means, black land. Coulter is therefore a local surname, of which there are many types. For instance, topographic surnames could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. In this case, the surname is both topographical, in that it comes from the phrase, black land, and local in the general sense, since it comes from the place-name, Coulter.

Early Origins of the Coulter family

The surname Coulter was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from very early times.

Some of the first records include: Richard of Culter, sheriff of Lanark, appears in record in 1226; and Alexander de Cultre witnessed a grant by Maldoueny, earl of Lennox to Stephen de Blantyr, c. 1248. "Andrew de Cultyr who held land in Aberdeen in 1281 doubtless derived his name from the lands of Coulter in Aberdeenshire." 1

Early History of the Coulter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coulter research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1226, 1281, 1686, 1810 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Coulter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coulter Spelling Variations

Medieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Coulter has been spelled Coulter, Colter, Coalter, Coultere, Coultar, Coultur, Coltar, Coltur, Coltir, Coltire and many more.

Early Notables of the Coulter family

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

Coulter Ranking

In the United States, the name Coulter is the 1,586th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 2 However, in New Zealand, the name Coulter is ranked the 922nd most popular surname with an estimated 804 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Coulter family to Ireland

Some of the Coulter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Coulter migration to the United States +

Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The Coulter were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:

Coulter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Coulter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Coulter migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Coulter Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Coulter Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Coulter migration to Australia +

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

Coulter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Coulter migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Coulter Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Coulter (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Coulter +
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