The Cottrell surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 16,930 people carried this name — #2,141 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 17,400 people counted. That is up 4% from 16,288 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Cottrell surname

From Old French coterel, a diminutive of cotier (“cottager”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Cottrell» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the cotterel’.

An early record he cites: Richard Coterell, Devon, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Cotterell, Cottrell and Cottrill.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 208 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 34 people named Cottrell.

5 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 3 départements, most often Martinique.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 5
Martinique 27
Pas-de-Calais 1
Paris 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

35 families named Cottrell, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 205 people lived in those households, 5.9 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 7 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Rhode Island 17
Virginia 6
New York 4
Maine 2
Maryland 2
North Carolina 2
Connecticut 1
South Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 235 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Cottrell in American newspapers,
1875–1919.

Newspaper page from The Sun carrying the name Cottrell
The Sun 1919-03-30
Newspaper page from Fort Worth Daily Gazette carrying the name Cottrell
Fort Worth Daily Gazette 1890-05-15
Newspaper page from The Holt County Sentinel carrying the name Cottrell
The Holt County Sentinel 1875-03-12

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 79,664 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Cottrell in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

14,799 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Cottrell. The most, 2,109, date from the 1870s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in South Australia, at 2.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 4,587
New South Wales 4,559
Queensland 1,909
Victoria 1,858
Western Australia 1,217
Tasmania 537
ACT (Canberra) 86
Northern Territory 9

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Cottrell.

Who carried it

People named Cottrell,
with a public archive behind them.

  • James La Fayette Cottrell
    James La Fayette Cottrell 1808–1885 · politician
  • Roswell F. Cottrell
    Roswell F. Cottrell 1814–1892
  • Robert Cottrell
    Robert Cottrell 1815–1880 · politician
  • Ann Catherine Cottrell d. 1892
  • Elizabeth Cottrell d. 1822
  • Michael Cottrell d. 1996

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Cottrell,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,311 records

1,311 records of the Cottrell name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 530
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 260
  • Other U.S. records 521
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Thomas Lee Cottrell

    Born 1947; from Los Gatos, California. U.S. Marine Corps, mortarman; killed in action 1968 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam. Buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Theodore C. Cottrell

    Born 1919 in Virginia. Enlisted 1941 at Fort Jay Governors Island, New York; auto mechanic. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1949, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Edith Cottrell

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the Germanic from Liverpool, aged 22; servant. From Liverpool, England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,311 records for Cottrell in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia481 records

481 records of the Cottrell name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 228
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 99
  • Other Australian records 154
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Constance Maud Cottrell

    Died 1926 in Public Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1926.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Ostler Cottrell

    Married 1884 in Oatlands, Tasmania, aged 42. Died 1891 in Oatlands, Tasmania, aged 49.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Samuel Cottrell

    Arrived in Victoria in 1886 aboard the Lusitania, aged 23; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 481 records for Cottrell in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada34 records

34 records of the Cottrell name in Canada
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 13
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 10
  • Other Canadian records 11
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Robert Freeman Cottrell

    Buried in 1998 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 58.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record William Cottrell

    Died in service in 1915.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Leah Cottrell

    Married 1898 in Guysborough, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 34 records for Cottrell in Canada.

Counts: City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

United Kingdom17 records

17 records of the Cottrell name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 12
  • Welsh wills index cards 4
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 1
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Fanny Judith Cottrell

    Will proved in 1935; of Swansea, Glamorgan.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lester Cottrell

    Buried in 1794 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 37.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. Cottrell

    Gloucestershire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 17 records for Cottrell in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand8 records

8 records of the Cottrell name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Anthony Crisp Cottrell

    Died 1942, aged 75; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jarvis Cottrell

    Died 1893, aged 20; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Clara Louisa Cottrell

    Died 1938; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Cottrell in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France6 records

6 records of the Cottrell name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Emmanuelle Therese Anne-Marie Cottrell

    Born 1926 in Fort-de-France; died 2001 in Fort-de-France (Martinique).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jacques Marie Gerard Cottrell

    Born 1930 in Fort-de-France (Martinique); died 1999 in Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Claire Marie Joseph Cottrell

    Born 1915 in Ducos (Martinique); died 1990 in Thiais (Val-de-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Cottrell in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands4 records

4 records of the Cottrell name in the Netherlands Dutch church registers before 1811
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record John Cottrell

    Married in 1772 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Steeven Cottrell

    Married in 1768 in Utrecht.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Robbert Cottrell

    Married in 1628 in Amersfoort.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 4 records for Cottrell in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Belgium2 records

2 records of the Cottrell name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Maria Cottrell

    Married in 1912 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Marie Cottrell

    Married in 1901 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Cottrell.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Cottrell is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Cottrell volume
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