Contents [hide]

Code History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Code History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Wales
Ireland

The name Code is from the rugged landscape of Wales. It is a Celtic name that was derived from Cudde or Codling, which were both pet-forms of the personal name Cuthbert. 1

Another source claims the name is derived from the "Anglo-Saxon personal name Cod, Coda, Codda [Old English codd, meaning a bag]." 2

During the 16th century, a codder was a worker in leather, a saddler, or a peltmonger. Thus, Code may also be an occupational surname applied to someone involved in one of these trades.

Early Origins of the Code family

The surname Code was first found in Cornwall, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

"The manor of Methleigh, [in the parish of Breage, Cornwall] was formerly the property of Sir Thomas Arundell, of Truthall in Sithney, from whom it passed by sale to the family of Coode, about the commencement of the last century. In this family it has since remained, and it is now the property of Edward Coode, Esq. of St. Austell." 3

"In the church [of Morvall, Cornwall there] are memorials for the families of Mayow, Kendall, and Coode. For William Coode who died in 1637, there is a monument containing figures of himself and his wife, in a kneeling attitude. These are in bas relief on slate; behind each of which is a vine, and on four of their principal branches, are death's heads." 3

Early History of the Code family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Code research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1586, 1635, 1648, 1672, 1689, 1690, 1709, 1765 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Code History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Code Spelling Variations

The Welsh have an extremely large amount of spelling variations of their native surnames to their credit. It was up to the priest or the scribe taking the official records to determine how the spoken name was to be made literal. As time progressed, the old Brythonic names of Wales were recorded in English, which was especially problematic since the English language had extreme difficulty recording the highly inflected sounds of Cymraeg. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Code have included Code, Codd, Codde, Coad, Coade and others.

Early Notables of the Code family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Code of Gridley Castle in Devon

Migration of the Code family to Ireland

Some of the Code family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Code migration to the United States +

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Code:

Code Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Walter Code, with his wife and family, settled in Virginia in 1648

Code Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel Code was an early settler in New Hampshire
Patrick Code, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1852 4

Code migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Code Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Nicholas Code, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1810

Code migration to Australia +

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

Code Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Stephen Code, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cressy" in 1847 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Code (post 1700) +

Major-General James Arthur Jr. Code (1893-1971), American Chief Signal Officer US Army (1945) 6
John P. Code, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1908 7

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CRESSY 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Cressy.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) James Code. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Code/James_Arthur_Jr./USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html