Cotman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Cotman

What does the name Cotman mean?

The history of the Cotman name began with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the occupation "the coltman" or horse breeder. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Cotman family

The surname Cotman was first found in Cumberland where Anote Coltman was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332. Later, John le Coltman was listed in Cheshire in 1365. This latter entry underscores the occupational origin of the name as this entry literally translates as "John the Coltman."

The Writs of Parliament lists Geoffrey Coltman, 1313 and checking Yorkshire records we found Richard Coltman listed there in the Corpus Christi Guild (Surtees Society) in 1494. 1

Early History of the Cotman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cotman research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1365, 1703 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Cotman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cotman Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Cotman include Coltman, Coultman and others.

Early Notables of the Cotman family

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

Migration of the Cotman family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Cotman were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John Coltman of Wethersfield who came from Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire, he settled in Springfield Mass in 1644; Ann Coltman settled in Virginia in 1623.

Contemporary Notables of the name Cotman (post 1700) +

Joseph John Cotman (1814-1878), English landscape artist, the second son of John Sell Cotman 4
Miles Edmund Cotman (1810-1858), English landscape painter, eldest son of John Sell Cotman 5
John Sell Cotman (1782-1842), English landscape water colourist, son of a prosperous silk mercer and dealer in foreign lace at Norwich, whose place of business was in London Lane of that town 5

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020