Counts History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Counts comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a person who held the noble title of Count. Such names were also occasionally bestowed as nicknames on those of undeservedly haughty or regal bearing.
Early Origins of the Counts family
The surname Counts was first found in Durham where they held a family seat from ancient times.
Early History of the Counts family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Counts research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1225, 1262, 1293, 1327, 1769 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Counts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Counts Spelling Variations
Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Counts has undergone many spelling variations, including Countesse, Cunte, Conte, Counte, Contesse, Count, Comitissa and many more.
Early Notables of the Counts family
More information is included under the topic Early Counts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Counts Ranking
In the United States, the name Counts is the 3,265th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1
Counts migration to the United States +
To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Counts were among those contributors:
Counts Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Barnet Counts, aged 35, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
- Barnet Counts who sailed to Philadelphia in 1732
- Daniel Counts, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1789 2
Counts Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- William Counts travele to Delaware in 1803
Counts Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Arthur C. Counts, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "West Kyska" from Buenos Aires, Argentina 3
- Marion C. Counts, aged 44, who arrived in New York in 1924 aboard the ship "Santa Luisa" from Antofagasta, Chile 3
Contemporary Notables of the name Counts (post 1700) +
- Mel Grant Counts (b. 1941), retired American NBA basketball player who played from 1964 to 1976, two-time NBA champion (1965-1966)
- Clayton Counts (b. 1973), American musician and composer, best known for his work with the experimental band Bull of Heaven
- Johnny Counts (1939-2004), American NFL football running back for the New York Giants from 1962 to 1963 and for later CFL from 1964 to 1966
- George Sylvester Counts (1889-1974), American educator and influential education theorist, head of the American Federation of Teachers, the founder of the New York State Liberal Party
Suggested Readings for the name Counts +
- The Counts Family of Missouri by Hilde W. Beaty.
- History of the Descendants of John Koontz (including the Counts Family) by Hilde W. Beaty.
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result