Show ContentsCoouts History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A family in the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland was the first to use the name Coouts. They lived in Cults in Aberdeenshire where the name can be found since very early times.

Early Origins of the Coouts family

The surname Coouts was first found in Aberdeenshire. The name is "a common surname in Upper Deeside. Richard de Cotis appears as a landowner in Elgyn, 1343. In 1392 John de Cowtis and Donald de Cowtis were put to the horn as part guilty of the slaughter of Sir Walter de Ogilvy, sheriff of Angus and others. The principal family of the name was established in the earldom of Mar, Aberdeenshire, by a Crown charter in 1433, of the lands of Ochtercoull or Auchtercoul in favor of William Coutts, his brother Alexander, their cousin John, and his brother Alexander." 1

Early History of the Coouts family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coouts research. Another 439 words (31 lines of text) covering the years 1348, 1392, 1411, 1434, 1470, 1473, 1478, 1483, 1525, 1526, 1529, 1531, 1553, 1555, 1566, 1567, 1583, 1640, 1672, 1699, 1735, 1742, 1750 and 1822 are included under the topic Early Coouts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coouts Spelling Variations

In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Coouts has been spelled Coutts, Couts, Coots, Cootes, Coutt, Cout, Coot, Coote and many more.

Early Notables of the Coouts family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was John Coutts (1699-1750), a British merchant and banker, Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1742. He was the "eldest son of Patrick Coutts, a tradesman in Edinburgh, and formerly of Montrose, by his wife, Christina Smith, was born on 28 July 1699. He entered into business as commission agent and dealer in grain, and rapidly acquiring capital became a negotiator of bills, a business which the banks...
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coouts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coouts family

In such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through Clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of Coouts: John Coutts who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1839; C.F. Coutes settled in San Francisco Cal. in 1851; John Cootes settled in Virginia in 1648..



  1. 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)


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