Show ContentsCockuttlere History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The founding heritage of the Cockuttlere family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Cockuttlere comes from when one of the family worked as a knife-maker. The surname Cockuttlere originally derived from the Old French Cotelier. 1

Early Origins of the Cockuttlere family

The surname Cockuttlere was first found in London, where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Saleman le Cotiler as holding lands at that time. The same rolls listed Matilda la Cutiller, Lincolnshire. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had some interesting entries as a surname and as an occupation: Ricardus Hyngham, cotteter; Willelmus Cottelar; Thomas Hank, of Handsworth, colder; and Johannes Cotelar, of Handsworth, bakester. "From its frequency I should have expected a larger number of Cutlers in the present directories of that county. "2

Moving further north from Yorkshire into Scotland, it was a Galloway name. "Matthew de Coteleir of Berwick rendered homage in 1296. The Cutlers of Orroland, parish of Rerwick, are said to have obtained the lands from the monks of Dundrennan Abbey in 1437. The local tradition is that the first of the Cutlers who came to the parish was employed in sharpening the tools of the masons engaged in the erection of the abbey and thereby acquired their name. This is most improbable. There is no mention of the family until 1606 when John Cuidar was served heir to his father in Oroland. The surname occurs in Aberdeen in 1460. Hugh Cutler was repledged to liberty of burgh of Irvine, 1472, and Thomas Cutlar possessed a tenement in Brechin, 1493." 3

Early History of the Cockuttlere family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cockuttlere research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1212, 1412, 1503, 1540, 1608, 1657, 1693, 1698, 1792, 1796, 1803, 1812, 1818, 1821 and 1823 are included under the topic Early Cockuttlere History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cockuttlere Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Cockuttlere has been spelled many different ways, including Cutler, Cutlere, Cuttler, Coutler, Coutlere, Coutlar, Cutlar, Cutlur, Cutlare, Cuttlar, Cuttlure, Couttler and many more.

Early Notables of the Cockuttlere family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir John Cutler (1608?-1693), a wealthy merchant of London, whose avarice, handed down by tradition and anecdote to Pope, has become immortal, was the son of Thomas Cutler, a member of the Grocers' Company, and was born in or about 1608. "Though little scrupulous in his business dealings, he appears to have been ‘one of those contradictory but by no means rare...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cockuttlere Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cockuttlere family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Cockuttleres to arrive in North America: James Cutler of Watertown, Massachusetts, who settled there in the year 1635. Clinton Cutler also settled in the same year in St. Christopher. Elizabeth Cutler settled in Barbados in 1685..



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. 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)


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