Surname Cottam - Meaning and Origin
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Cottam: What does the surname Cottam mean?
The surname Cottam is of English origins, derived from the Old English personal name Cotta, which means "son of cottage, village." This name is found mostly in the counties of Cheshire and Lancashire, where it was derived from a place-name meaning "cottage homestead."
The earliest records of this surname can be found in the church records of Lancashire, where it was first recorded in 1590. It is also common in the town of Cottam in Nottinghamshire, though the connection is unclear. The most prominent family of this name was at the manor of Cuerdley in Lancashire, which they held for several centuries.
Throughout the centuries, the name has been quite popular, reaching a peak in the early 19th century. In modern times, Cottam is primarily found in Britain, though it is also present in countries that received large numbers of British immigrants, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In today's society, those named Cottam are often proud of their roots and take pride in their heritage. Aside from their English origin, the name is most associated with ambition and strength; Cottams are strong, hardworking people with a strong sense of duty and responsibility.
Order DNA origin analysisCottam: Where does the name Cottam come from?
The last name Cottam is found in many countries today, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. The surname originated in the UK, where it is most common today. It is a habitational name derived from a location in Lancashire England, and is thought to have originated as an Old English name and have evolved from the Viking words 'kot' and 'ham', which translate loosely to "homestead by the harbor".
In the United States, the last name Cottam is most common in the states of Nevada, Utah, and Oregon, and is among the Top 1000 most-common surnames in the US. Additionally, in Canada, the last name Cottam is most common in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, and is one of the top one hundred most-common surnames in Canada.
In Australia, the last name Cottam is not as common, but still present in the population. It is most common in the state of New South Wales, and in the city of Sydney. In New Zealand, it is most common on the South Island, specifically in the region of Canterbury.
Overall, the last name Cottam is fairly widespread and is found in many countries worldwide, with slightly different variations in spelling. It is particularly common in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, amongst others.
Variations of the surname Cottam
The surname Cottam is derived from a Northern English place name, derived from either 'cot', meaning a small cottage, or 'cottam', meaning a small settlement. Variations of the name are 'Cotton', 'Cotman', 'Cottom' and 'Cuttam' and some rare spellings include 'Cotum', 'Cotam', 'Coteum' and 'Cotemon'.
The surname Cottam can also appear in records as 'Coteham', 'Cottun', 'Cottin', 'Cottona' and 'Cottane' as well as 'Cottenham', 'Cootam' and 'Cudham'. Other spellings are 'Coctam', 'Caughton', 'Cogton', 'Caughtin', 'Cockton', 'Coggin' and 'Cockston'.
Related surnames to Cottam include 'Cutton', 'Coton', 'Cotton' and 'Cotterell', as well as 'Cottingham', 'Cottingham', 'Cottrell', 'Cotterill', 'Cottington', 'Cottington', 'Cottrill', 'Cottenham' and 'Quottom'.
Variations of the surname Cottam can be found across countries, including Scotland, Ireland, Wales, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In some cases, the spelling of the Cottam surname has been modified over time to accommodate language and cultural changes. The many spellings of this surname are testament to its longevity and the diverse culture of its bearers.
Famous people with the name Cottam
- Douglas Cottam: English rugby league footballer
- Gordon Cottam: English footballer
- Art Cottam: former second baseman in Major League Baseball
- Oliver Cottam: English physicist and computer scientist known for pioneering the development of user friendly interfaces
- John Cottam: former Australian rules footballer
- David Cottam: former Australian rules footballer
- Noel Cottam: former English cricketer
- Henry Cottam: Canadian writer
- Peter Cottam: British mathematician and computer scientist
- Margaret Cottam: English social worker and academic
- Johann Cottam: Belgian violinist, composer, and conductor
- Michael Cottam: British mathematician and computer scientist
- Adam Cottam: English film and television actor
- Paul Cottam: English chronicler
- Rob Cottam: English football player
- John Cottam: English footballer
- Bonnie Cottam: Canadian ice hockey player
- Galen Cottam: American composer
- Stephen Cottam: English actor
- David Cottam: English rock singer and record producer