Caldicourt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Caldicourt is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in Caldecot, which was the name of parishes found in Peterborough and Worcestershire. The name was originally derived from the Old English word ceald-cote and literally meant the dweller at the cold-huts. 1 2

The Colgate variant also claims descent from Colegates in Shoreham, Kent or at Colgate in Lower Bleeding, Sussex. 2 The Kent village may now be lost, but there are streets named Colegates, in Faversham, Kent. The Sussex village survives and is now in West Sussex. The earliest record for this variant is Stephen de Colegate who was listed in London in 1300. 2 William Colgate (1783-1857) the English-born, American soap industrialist hailed from Hollingbourne, Kent.

Early Origins of the Caldicourt family

The surname Caldicourt was first found in various places named Caldecote or Caldecott throughout Britain including Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire.

No fewer than five of them are listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Caldecote, Cambridgeshire; Caldecota, Hertfordshire; Caldecote, Warwickshire; Caldecote, Leicestershire; and Caldecote, Northamptonshire. Williamscott or Willscott in Oxfordshire was home to the family too.

Early rolls confirmed the wide-spread use of the name in early rolls with many spelling variations: Simon de Caldecot in the Pipe Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1165; Geoffrey de Caudecot in the Curia Regis Rolls for Kent in 1206; William de Cheldecot in Warwickshire in 1225; Edmund de Calicote in the Hundredorum Rolls for Berkshire in 1275; Richard de Coldecote in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275; and John de Caldekote in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. 2

"Walter Calcott, in 1575, endowed a free school here with £13 per annum payable out of his manor of Williamscott, for 40 boys chosen by lot from the villages around." 3 The hamlet was also made famous as the site that Charles I. slept a night or two prior to the battle of Cropredy-Bridge.

Early History of the Caldicourt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caldicourt research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1304, 1320, 1766, 1779, 1782, 1783, 1785, 1800, 1836, 1837, 1843, 1844, 1846, 1849 and 1886 are included under the topic Early Caldicourt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caldicourt 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 Caldicourt were recorded, including Caldecot, Caldecott, Caldecotte and others.

Early Notables of the Caldicourt family

Notables of the family at this time include John Wall Calcott, born November 20, 1766, at Kensington, where his father carried on the business of a bricklayer and builder. Whilst a school-boy he had frequent opportunities of examining the organ at Kensington church, and having funned an acquaintance with the organist became a constant visitor to the organ-loft on Sundays. There he acquired his knowledge of the rudiments of music. His intention was to follow the profession of surgery, but the sight of a severe operation so seriously affected his nerves that he abandoned it and turned his attention to music...
Another 178 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Caldicourt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Caldicourt family

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 Caldicourt family emigrate to North America: Elizabeth Calcott who settled in Virginia in 1651; James Calcutt settled in San Francisco in 1850; William Caldecot arrived in New York City in 1774.

The Caldicourt 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: In utrumque paratus
Motto Translation: Prepared for both.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.