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![Show Contents]() Coourcie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Irish already had a system for creating hereditary surnames established when the followers of Strongbow settled in eastern Ireland. Although there was relatively little friction between the two systems because they operated according to very similar principles, the Strongbownians frequently used local surnames. In Ireland, local surnames were almost unheard of, but in England they were probably the most common form of hereditary surname. Local surnames, such as Coourcie, were taken from the name of a place or a geographical feature where the person lived, held land, or was born. The surname Coourcie is derived from in the settlement of Coursi in Normandy. The surname Coourcie belongs to the large category of Anglo-Norman habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The Gaelic form of the surname Coourcie is de Cúrsa. Early Origins of the Coourcie familyThe surname Coourcie was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, in Ireland, where this noble family claim descent from Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, King of France, who died in 814. Descended was Balderic Teutonicus, Earl of Brion in Normandy, who had six sons. The third son was Robert de Courcy, Lord of Courcy in Normandy. His son, Richard, was at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. and was granted Stoke-Courcy in Somerset, and other lands. His son John De Courcy, Baron of Stoke Courcy, was created Earl of Ulster by King Henry II for his assistance in conquering the province of Ulster, but Sir John was deprived of his Earldom by King John, who confined him to the Tower of London for one year and granted Ulster to Hugh de Lacie. His son Miles De Courcy, would move to Ireland where he was made the 1st Baron of Kingsale, County Cork. 1 Patrick de Courcy was appointed Justiciar of Ireland in 1221. 2 Early History of the Coourcie familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coourcie research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1098, 1160, 1172, 1176, 1181, 1182, 1210, 1219, 1664 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Coourcie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Coourcie Spelling VariationsChurch officials and medieval scribes spelled names as they sounded; therefore, single person, could have his name spelt many different ways during their lifetime. While investigating the origins of the name Coourcie, many spelling variations were encountered, including: Courcy, Courcey, Courcie, Curcy, Cursie, Curcie and many more. Early Notables of the Coourcie familyNotable amongst the family up to this time was Sir Richard de Courcy (died 1098) ; John de Courcy (1160-1219), an Anglo-Norman knight who arrived in Ireland in 1176...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coourcie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Coourcie familyIreland's Great Potato Famine left the country's inhabitants in extreme poverty and starvation. Many families left their homeland for North America for the promise of work, freedom and land ownership. Although the Irish were not free of economic and racial discrimination in North America, they did contribute greatly to the rapid development of bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Eventually, they would be accepted in other areas such as commerce, education, and the arts. An examination of immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Coourcie: Henry DeCourcy, on record in Maryland in 1634. Others include: William de Courcy, a Jacobite was sent to Maryland in 1763; James Courcey, an enforced emigrant from Ireland to America in 1739.
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Vincit omnia veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers all things.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
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