The vast movement of people that followed the
Norman Conquest of
England in 1066 brought the Courtoy family name to the British Isles. Courtoy comes from refined or educated person. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old French word
curteis, which means
refined or
accomplished. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.Early Origins of the Courtoy family
The surname Courtoy was first found in
Warwickshire but the name was scattered throughout Britain since early times. By example, the
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists: William le Curteis in Cambridgeshire; Walter Curteys in Oxfordshire; Osbert le Curteys in Essex; Henry Corteys in Devon; and Richard le Corteys in
Oxfordshire.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) Over one
hundred years later, the
Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Adam Curtase and Johannes Cartas.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Early History of the Courtoy family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Courtoy research.
Another 321 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1130, 1168, 1531 and 1534 are included under the topic Early Courtoy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Courtoy Spelling Variations
Endless
spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Curtis, Curtiss, Curtyss, Curtys, Curtess, Curtes, Cortes, Cortis and many more.
Early Notables of the Courtoy family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Courtoy Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Courtoy family to Ireland
Some of the Courtoy family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Courtoy family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Courtoy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- George Courtoy, aged under 35, a shipwright, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "South Australian" in 1837 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SOUTH AUSTRALIAN 1837-1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837SouthAustralian.htm - Eliza Sewell Courtoy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "South Australian" in 1837 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SOUTH AUSTRALIAN 1837-1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837SouthAustralian.htm - Charles Courtoy, aged 14, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "South Australian" in 1837 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SOUTH AUSTRALIAN 1837-1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837SouthAustralian.htm - Louisa Courtoy, aged under 5, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "South Australian" in 1837 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SOUTH AUSTRALIAN 1837-1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837SouthAustralian.htm - Agnes Mary Ann Courtoy, aged 1, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "South Australian" in 1837 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SOUTH AUSTRALIAN 1837-1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837SouthAustralian.htm