Surname Cotham - Meaning and Origin
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Cotham: What does the surname Cotham mean?
The last name Cotham is an English surname most likely of Norman origin, meaning “cottage homestead”. The surname is a locational one, typically derived from a place name where an ancestor once lived and would have been passed on to their descendants.
The earliest known mention of the name Cotham was in 1379, in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, England. Other records indicate that a William Cotham was recorded in the Court Rolls of the borough of Cambridge in 1595.
The locations of Cotham can be traced to at least four places in England. Cotham was listed in the Doomsday Book of 1086 in the area of Grimsby and Lincolnshire; Cotham was listed in Yorkshire in the Pipe Rolls of 1130; Cotham was recorded in Nottinghamshire in the Hundred Rolls of 1275; and Cotham was mentioned in the Sussex Charter Rolls of 1297.
The Cotham name can also be found in Scotland, where variants of the surname were recorded in the 16th century. The most common variations of the spelling are Cotham and Courtenay, with variations of the spelling including Cothamme, Coatam, Kotaum, Codum and Curtham.
Today, the surname Cotham is quite widespread across the English speaking world, with families of the name found chiefly in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisCotham: Where does the name Cotham come from?
The last name Cotham is common in the United States today, particularly in southern states such as Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi. Additionally, Cotham is found in parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in Wales and England. The name dates back to at least the 13th century, when a William de Cotham family was recorded in Somerset, England.
The origin of the surname is unclear, and there are several viable theories. Some believe the name is derived from an ancient settlement, derived from the Old English words cot, meaning “cottage” and ham, meaning “village.” Others suggest it is derived from the Old Norse words koth and hamar, meaning “bent island.” Still, others believe it is a corruption of the Middle English phrase “co-ham,” which means “at the village.”
Regardless of the origin of the name, it is clear that the Cotham family is an old one, much of its history lost to time. Today, the surname is relatively common, particularly in certain areas of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Cotham
The surname Cotham is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be found in records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words “cot” or “cote”, meaning a cottage, and “ham”, meaning a settlement or a village. Variants of the surname Cotham include Cothan, Cothum, Cothon, Cotherwyk and Cotherick. There are also a number of spelling variations that were likely related to dialect and education, such as Cothamme, Cothem, Cothems, Catten and Cottam.
In addition to the variants of the surname Cotham, there are a number of other surnames that have a similar etymology. These surnames include Coten, Cotenham, Coton, Cottingham, Cottingan and Cotzean.
The surname Cotham can also be found in a number of European countries, including Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England and Iceland. In Scotland and Ireland, it is known as MacCotham, while in other countries it may be spelled as MacCothon, MacCothen or MacCothery.
Overall, the surname Cotham and its variants have evolved over the centuries to become one of the most common surnames in Europe. It has spread throughout the world, leaving a legacy of generations of people bearing the same or related surnames.
Famous people with the name Cotham
- Justin Cotham, an American singer-songwriter and jazz guitarist.
- Simon Cotham, an American musician of Scottish descent.
- Mary Cotham, an American country music singer and songwriter.
- Bill Cotham, an American music producer and audio engineer.
- Sean Cotham, an American professional baseball player.
- Eric Cotham, an American television actor.
- David Cotham, a British freelance film editor.
- Paul Cotham, a British politician and Member of Parliament.
- Jenifer Cotham, an American executive and cabinet secretary.
- Emma Cotham, an American actress and television host.