Show ContentsCuerten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Cuerten name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the township of Cuerden, which is in the parish of Leyland in the county of Lancashire. The surname Cuerten belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

The Kearton variant hails from the hamlet so named in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire. 1 This place dates back to the 13th century when it was known as Karretan and possibly meant "farmstead of a man called Kaerir," a Viking personal name. 2

Early Origins of the Cuerten family

The surname Cuerten was first found in Lancashire in the village and civil parish of Cuerden in the Borough of Chorley. The village has remained small over the years as a recent census showed only 77 people living there. The place name derives its name from the Welsh word cerdin.

Roger the Poitevin (Roger de Poitou), born in Normandy originally held the lands shortly after the Conquest. Cuerden Hall is a country mansion built around 1717 on a site of a previous manor home.

Early History of the Cuerten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cuerten research. Another 44 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1568, 1572, 1581, 1601, 1604, 1608, 1620, 1636, 1642, 1655 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Cuerten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cuerten Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Cuerten were recorded, including Cuerden, Cuerton and others.

Early Notables of the Cuerten family

Distinguished members of the family include John Cuerden a prominent landholder in 17th century Lancashire. Sir William Courten or Curteene (1572-1636), was an English merchant, the son of William Courten, by his wife Margaret Casiere, and was born in London in 1572. A younger brother, born in 1581, was named Peter. Their father was son of a tailor of Menin and a protestant. After enduring much persecution at the hands of the Spaniards, he escaped to...
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cuerten Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cuerten family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Cuerten family emigrate to North America: Richard and Margaret Cureton, and their two children who arrived in Philadelphia in 1685; and John Cuerton who sailed to Pennsylvania in 1880.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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