Contents [hide]

Cotton History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Cotton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The Cotton name comes from that Medieval landscape of southern France known as Languedoc. The name Cotton was originally derived from the family having lived in Languedoc, where the family was found since the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Cotton family

The surname Cotton was first found in Languedoc, where they are recorded as one of the distinguished ancient families of that region.

The Cot or Côté family were well educated and learned people and there are many instances in the records of this. The Les Cot family of Limoges developed one of the first printing methods, with hot lead type, which they took to Paris in the 1600's. Pierre was an author of a book on the origins of printing in 1707.

Jean Pierre Cote, a noted poet, was born in Briancon in 1810. Jean-Leopold left on his death a "Dictionnaire de la législation des états sardes" in 1841. Jean André de Cot, descended from the Tournon branch of the family and, born in Briancon in 1789, campaigned against the war of the Empire, and his son Alexis was the owner of the "Journal de Tournon".

Jean Côté settled in Quebec in 1634 and married Anne Martin on 17th November 1635. Together they had five sons that carried on the family name of Côté. Jean was buried in Quebec on 28th March 1661. 1

Early History of the Cotton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cotton research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1472, 1530, 1532, 1539, 1540, 1543, 1549, 1564, 1575, 1589, 1595, 1604, 1613, 1626, 1656, 1681 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Cotton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cotton Spelling Variations

History has changed the spelling of most surnames. During the early development of the French language in the Middle Ages, a person gave his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, there spelling variations of the name Cotton, some of which include Côté, Cot, Cotte, Cott, Kott, Kote, Cotée, Cotet, Cotin, Coton, Cottet, Cottin, Cotton, Cotard, Cottard, Lacotte, Cotté, Cottu, Cottarel, Cottebrune, Cotner, Cottez and many more.

Early Notables of the Cotton family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Claude Cot, Treasurer of Dauphiné in 1472; Pierre Coton (1564-1626), a French Jesuit and royal confessor; Charles Cotin or Abbé Cotin (1604-1681), a French abbé, philosopher and poet; and Robert de Cotte (1656-1735), a French architect-administrator. Gaspard Coste, chorister in the cathedral of Avignon about...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cotton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cotton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Cotton is the 856^th most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Cotton is ranked the 2,985^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Cotton is the 723^rd popular surname with an estimated 989 people with that name. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Cotton as 710^th with 9,452 people. 5

Cotton migration to the United States +

Migration from France to New France or Quebec as it was now more popularly called, continued from France until it fell in 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, the Acadians were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. In 1793, the remaining French in these provinces came under British rule. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Cotton were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Cotton were

Cotton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Cotton, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1607 6
Seaborn Cotton, son of John Cotton, was born aboard the ship "Griffin" on route to Boston in 1633. 6
Mrs. Sarah Cotton, (neeHawkred), who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Griffin" with husband John, bound for New England
Rev. John Cotton, (15858-1652), a clergyman in England and the American colonies and was considered the preeminent minister and theologian of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He arrived in Boston aboard the ship "Griffin" in 1633, bound for New England 6
Miss Elizabeth Cotton, (born Story) who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Griffin", daughter of Mrs. Sarah Cotton from her first marriage 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cotton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Cotton, who arrived in Virginia in 1721 6
Joseph Cotton, who landed in Virginia in 1735 6
Nathaniel Cotton, who arrived in Florida in 1768 6
Henry Cotton, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1777 6

Cotton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Cotton, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1812 6
Tomas Cotton, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1816 6
Timothy Cotton, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 6
Claudius Cotton, aged 25, who arrived in Missouri in 1842 6
J S Cotton, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cotton Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. George Cotton, (b. 1885), aged 18, Cornish gardener travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1903 en route to Houghton, Michigan, Usa 8
Mr. Thomas Cotton, (b. 1881), aged 23, Cornish roofer travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1904 en route to Braddock, Pennsylvania, USA 8

Cotton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cotton Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Henry Cotton, who settled in Renewes, Newfoundland, in 1675 9

Cotton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Leonard Cotton, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752

Cotton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Cotton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1842
Mr. Thomas Cotton, aged 14 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "James Moran" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 10

Cotton migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cotton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Cotton, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Michael Cotton, (b. 1779), aged 48, English cooper who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Champion" on 24th May 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1862 12
Mrs. Hannah Cotton, (b. 1801), aged 29, English laundress who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for larceny, transported aboard the "Earl of Liverpool" in December 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she had 2 children with her aboard, she died in 1867 13
Mr. Henry Cotton, (b. 1798), aged 34, English butcher who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1833 14
Mr. William Cotton, (b. 1809), aged 27, English ploughman who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 14 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cotton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cotton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Rev. W.Cotton, Australian settler travelling from Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Bristolian" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842 16
George Cotton, aged 29, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
Jemima Cotton, aged 28, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
Mr. William Cotton, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Inchinnan" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 27th May 1852 16
Mrs. Margaret Cotton, (b. 1810), aged 43, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd December 1853 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cotton migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 17

Cotton Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

William Cotton, who settled in Jamaica in 1663

Contemporary Notables of the name Cotton (post 1700) +

Dorothy Cotton (1930-2018), American leader in the Civil Rights Movement from Goldsboro, North Carolina, member of Southern Christian Leadership Conference
John J. Cotton (1924-2016), American professional NBA basketball small forward
Frank Albert Cotton (1930-2007), American chemist awarded the U.S. National Medal of Science in 1982, the Wolf Prize in 2000; and the Priestley Medal in 1998 along with twenty-nine honorary doctorates
Joseph Cheshire Cotton (1905-1994), award-winning American actor of stage and film 18
Delos J. Cotton (b. 1900), American politician, Representative from New York, 1900 (28th District), 1910 (31st District)
Charles Henry Cotton (1845-1938), American Republican politician, Served in the Union Army during the Civil War; Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 4th District, 1899-1902, 1905; Defeated, 1902
Charles E. Cotton, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from District of Columbia, 2000
Charles Camp Cotton, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1940; Chair of Gloucester County Democratic Party, 1945
Aylett Rains Cotton Jr. (1874-1965), American Republican politician, Superior court judge in California, 1947-50; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1956, 1960
Aylett Rains Cotton (1826-1912), American Republican politician, Went to California for the 1849 Gold Rush; Clinton County Judge, 1851-53; Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney, 1854; Mayor of Lyons, Iowa, 1855-57; Delegate to Iowa State Constitutional Convention 23rd District, 1857;
... (Another 50 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Cotton family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Lewis A Cotton (b. 1918), English Stoker 2nd Class serving for the Royal Navy from West Gorton, Manchester, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19

RMS Titanic

Mr. A. Cotton (d. 1912), aged 26, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 20

Citations +

Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 21)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 18th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/champion
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-of-liverpool
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Joseph Cotton. (Retrieved 2011, January 21) Joseph Cotton. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cotten
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html