Surname Cottonham - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Cottonham: What does the surname Cottonham mean?
The last name Cottonham is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and can trace its origins back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The origin of the name derives from the Old English words cot, meaning a small cottage or shelter, and ham, meaning an enclosure. This suggests that the surname may have initially belonged to a person who lived in or near a small cottage or shelter within an enclosure.
Throughout history, the name has likely taken on various forms, including Cotonham and Cottonam. Although the vast majority of records of the surname Cottonham are found in the UK, there are some cases of it being used in other countries including Canada and the US.
In modern usage, the name Cottonham is still commonly found in the UK. It is most widely concentrated in the east of the country, where it features among the top 1000 surnames present in the region. It’s likely that there are now many branches of the Cottonham family scattered around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisCottonham: Where does the name Cottonham come from?
The last name Cottonham is an uncommon surname today, and its geographical distribution is mostly limited to a few countries. Its origins have been traced back to England in the 16th century, where it was recorded in the Statistical Accounts of Scotland in the late 18th century and the General Register Office of England and Wales in the 19th century.
In the United States, the last name Cottonham is primarily located in the southeastern states such as Florida, Georgia, and Virginia. In the 2010 U.S. census, the name was found in a total of 41 states. Florida, with the largest population of Cottonhams, accounted for more than a quarter of the total with 97 individuals. Georgia, Louisiana and Virginia were also states where more than 50 individuals of the name lived. Texas with 42 people, Mississippi with 37 and Alabama with 35 also had a relatively high concentration of Cottonhams.
In the United Kingdom, Cottonham was a rare surname with only 14 individuals living in various places at the time of the 2011 census. Most of these lived in the Midlands, with towns such as Tamworth and Oldbury having more than one family of the name. Outside of the UK, Cottonham was most commonly found in Australia and New Zealand, with both countries having fewer than 100 individuals living in 2011.
Overall, it is clear that the surname Cottonham is not as widely spread as many other surnames today, with its presence mostly concentrated in a few countries. This could be due to various reasons, such as emigration patterns of past generations, which could have led to a diffusion of the Cottonham name among certain areas.
Variations of the surname Cottonham
The surname Cottonham is thought to have originated from some of the many places named Cottonham which were located in various English counties, including Bedfordshire, Dorset, Suffolk, and Hampshire. It is believed that the family name is derived from the Old English cottun-ham, meaning "homes at the cottages" or "the cottage settlement."
Variations on the spelling of the surname Cottonham include Cottenham, Cotonham, Cottonam, Cottinham, Cottanham, Cotarnham, Cotternham, Cotternam and Cottinam. It may go by alternate spellings and surnames such as Cotenham, Cotnam, Catenham, Catnam and Catonham.
The surname is fairly uncommon, and not frequently seen in records. It is found in England from Middlesex down to Hampshire counties, as well as in Yorkshire, Northumbria, Norfolk, and some Welsh counties.
The variant of Cottonham may appear in a variety of records; one such record is that of Robert Cottenham, who was mentioned in the 1564 Court Rolls of the Manor of Kirkbymoorside, Yorkshire. The same family is also known to have lived at Wortley, York for several generations.
The Cottonham surname has been linked to other similar surnames, such as Cottin, Cotton and Cotingham. It is also sometimes confused with Cottam, which is a completely different name.
The surname is most commonly found in England and Wales, though some records may be found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Famous people with the name Cottonham
- Kimberly Cottonham: a Young Hollywood fashion blogger, stylist, and designer from Los Angeles.
- Matthew Cottonham: a professional bass player from the UK.
- Tessa Cottonham: an actor and model from London, UK, best known for her performance in the Network 4 drama 'The Split'.
- Amanda Cottonham: a chef and restaurateur in Miami, Florida.
- Alec Cottonham: a drummer and vocalist in the band Romes.
- Josh Cottonham: a well-known rapper and producer from Chicago, Illinois.
- Ryan Cottonham: an award-winning photographer from Colorado.
- Sarah Cottonham: a world-renowned interior designer from Austin, Texas.
- Steve Cottonham: an American fantasy author and YouTube celebrity, best known for his bestselling novel 'The Red Prince'
- Joseph Cottonham: a professional snowboarder from Utah, who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics.