Coode History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

The name Coode 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, Coode may also be an occupational surname applied to someone involved in one of these trades.

Early Origins of the Coode family

The surname Coode 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 Coode family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coode 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 Coode History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coode Spelling Variations

Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Coode has occasionally been spelled Code, Codd, Codde, Coad, Coade and others.

Early Notables of the Coode family

More information is included under the topic Early Coode Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coode family to Ireland

Some of the Coode 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.

Coode migration to the United States +

In the 1800s and 1900s, many Welsh families left for North America, in search of land, work, and freedom. Those who made the trip successfully helped contribute to the growth of industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. In the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Coode

Coode Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Coode, who arrived in Maryland in 1667 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Coode (post 1700) +

Thomas Hodges Coode (1931-2015), American historian and author
Jim Coode (1951-1987), American-born, Canadian and American football player
Sir John Coode KCMG (1816-1892), English civil engineer, known for harbour works, eponym of Coode Island and Coode Canal, Australia
Captain Trevenen Penrose Coode, British captain of the HMS Sutlej, the flagship of Rear Admiral Joseph Denman, eponym of the Coode Peninsula, British Columbia, Canada
Ed Coode (b. 1975), British three-time gold medalist rower from Indian Queens, Cornwall

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)