Find out how popular the first name Cottrell has been for the last 40 years (from 1975 to 2014) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Cottrell by gender

Based on the last 40 years of data, Cottrell is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2014, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Cottrell.

The history of the first name Cottrell

Cottrell is an English given name with origins in the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French words "cot" meaning a small house or cottage, and "ruelle" meaning a narrow street or lane. The name likely originated as an occupational surname referring to someone who lived in a small cottage or dwelling on a narrow street or alleyway.

The earliest known recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273 as "Willelmus de la Coterelle". This suggests the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms such as "Coterel", "Coterelle", and "Cotterell" in records from counties like Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire. This indicates the name was most prevalent in the southern regions of England during this period.

One of the earliest known individuals with the given name Cottrell was Cottrell Clarenceaux, an English officer of arms who served as Clarenceaux King of Arms from 1512 to 1553 during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI.

In the 17th century, Cottrell Dormer (1598-1668) was an English landowner and politician who served as Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in the Long Parliament.

During the 18th century, Cottrell Billingsley (1703-1797) was a Welsh mathematician and educator who wrote several influential textbooks on arithmetic and algebra.

In the 19th century, Cottrell Dorrien (1808-1880) was a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General.

Another notable bearer of the name was Cottrell Dormer Ussher (1885-1976), an Irish cricketer who played first-class cricket for Dublin University and Ireland in the early 20th century.

While the name Cottrell has remained relatively uncommon as a given name throughout history, these examples demonstrate its use across various periods and contexts, often among individuals from prominent or educated backgrounds.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cottrell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cottrell, please contact us.

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