Show ContentsCoddel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Coddel

What does the name Coddel mean?

The present generation of the Coddel family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Cottle located in the hundred of Bradford in the county of Wiltshire. 1 One source presumes the name could have been originally from Normandy as there, William Cotel was listed (c. 1180-1195). 2

Early Origins of the Coddel family

The surname Coddel was first found in Wiltshire, where Beringarius Cotel was recorded in 1084. Later the Pipe Rolls of 1167 records Adam Cotella in Dorset. Eilwinus Kutel, Cutel was listed as a Knights Templar in Essex in 1185 and later, Walter Cotal was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Oxfordshire in 1206. 3 "The present representatives of the name of Cottle are evidently descended from the ancient Wiltshire family of Cottel, which originally owned much property, especially in the parish of Atford in the 13th century. 4 It is generally thought that Cottles in Wiltshire was named after the family. 5

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the family had spread to other shires: Elyas Cotel, Wiltshire; and Roger Cotel, Oxfordshire. 1 In Somerset, we found Robert Cothulle and John de Cothulle, both listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 6

Early History of the Coddel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coddel research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1167, 1185, 1206, 1327, 1518, 1522, 1523, 1605 and 1803 are included under the topic Early Coddel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coddel Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Coddel include Cottle, Cottell, Cottel, Cothulle, Cuttil, Cuttles, Cotel, Cotella and many more.

Early Notables of the Coddel family

Beringarius Cotel, a prominent 11th century Wiltshire landholder. John Cotell was the steward of Sir Edward Hungerford. He was strangled by his wife, Agnes at Farleigh Castle on 26 July 1518, with the aid of William Mathewe and William Inges, yeomen of Heytesbury, Wiltshire. Agnes then married Sir Edward shortly after her first husband's body was burned in the castle kitchens. It is unknown...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coddel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coddel family to Ireland

Some of the Coddel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coddel family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Coddel were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: William Cottle, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1638.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.


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