| ![Show Contents]() Coltire History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
Etymology of ColtireWhat does the name Coltire mean? The rugged west coast of Scotland and the desolate Hebrides islands are the ancestral home of the Coltire family. Their name indicates that the original bearer lived in or near Coulter in Lanarkshire or Aberdeenshire, in Scotland. The surname Coltire is derived from the Gaelic phrase, cúl tir, which means, black land. Coltire is therefore a local surname, of which there are many types. For instance, topographic surnames could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. In this case, the surname is both topographical, in that it comes from the phrase, black land, and local in the general sense, since it comes from the place-name, Coulter. Early Origins of the Coltire familyThe surname Coltire was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from very early times. Some of the first records include: Richard of Culter, sheriff of Lanark, appears in record in 1226; and Alexander de Cultre witnessed a grant by Maldoueny, earl of Lennox to Stephen de Blantyr, c. 1248. "Andrew de Cultyr who held land in Aberdeen in 1281 doubtless derived his name from the lands of Coulter in Aberdeenshire." 1 Early History of the Coltire familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coltire research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1226, 1281, 1686, 1810 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Coltire History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Coltire Spelling VariationsSpelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Coltire has been spelled Coulter, Colter, Coalter, Coultere, Coultar, Coultur, Coltar, Coltur, Coltir, Coltire and many more. Early Notables of the Coltire familyMore information is included under the topic Early Coltire Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Coltire family to IrelandSome of the Coltire family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Coltire familyThe hardy Scots who made the crossing settled all along the east coast of North America and in the great west that was just then opening up. At the time of the American War of Independence, many United Empire Loyalists moved north from the American colonies to Canada. Scottish national heritage became better known in North America in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic events. An examination of immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Coltire arrived in North America very early: John Colters settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1764; Hugh and Ann Coulter settled in New York State in 1811; Charles, David, Edward, Hugh, James, John, Joseph, Margaret, Robert, Thomas, and William Coulter, all settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1821 and 1880.
- 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)
 |
