Show ContentsCoutlar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Coutlar is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It is a name for someone who worked as a knife-maker. The surname Coutlar originally derived from the Old French Cotelier. [1]

Early Origins of the Coutlar family

The surname Coutlar was first found in London, where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Saleman le Cotiler as holding lands at that time. The same rolls listed Matilda la Cutiller, Lincolnshire. [2]

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had some interesting entries as a surname and as an occupation: Ricardus Hyngham, cotteter; Willelmus Cottelar; Thomas Hank, of Handsworth, colder; and Johannes Cotelar, of Handsworth, bakester. "From its frequency I should have expected a larger number of Cutlers in the present directories of that county. "[2]

Moving further north from Yorkshire into Scotland, it was a Galloway name. "Matthew de Coteleir of Berwick rendered homage in 1296. The Cutlers of Orroland, parish of Rerwick, are said to have obtained the lands from the monks of Dundrennan Abbey in 1437. The local tradition is that the first of the Cutlers who came to the parish was employed in sharpening the tools of the masons engaged in the erection of the abbey and thereby acquired their name. This is most improbable. There is no mention of the family until 1606 when John Cuidar was served heir to his father in Oroland. The surname occurs in Aberdeen in 1460. Hugh Cutler was repledged to liberty of burgh of Irvine, 1472, and Thomas Cutlar possessed a tenement in Brechin, 1493." [3]

Early History of the Coutlar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coutlar research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1212, 1412, 1503, 1540, 1608, 1657, 1693, 1698, 1792, 1796, 1803, 1812, 1818, 1821 and 1823 are included under the topic Early Coutlar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coutlar Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Coutlar are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Coutlar include: Cutler, Cutlere, Cuttler, Coutler, Coutlere, Coutlar, Cutlar, Cutlur, Cutlare, Cuttlar, Cuttlure, Couttler and many more.

Early Notables of the Coutlar family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir John Cutler (1608?-1693), a wealthy merchant of London, whose avarice, handed down by tradition and anecdote to Pope, has become immortal, was the son of Thomas Cutler, a member of the Grocers' Company, and was born in or about 1608. "Though little scrupulous in his business dealings, he appears to have been ‘one of those contradictory but by no means rare...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coutlar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coutlar family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Coutlar or a variant listed above: James Cutler of Watertown, Massachusetts, who settled there in the year 1635. Clinton Cutler also settled in the same year in St. Christopher. Elizabeth Cutler settled in Barbados in 1685..



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. 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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