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Thomas Cottam, Ann Howarth, Caroline Smith
Ancestors, a book researched, compiled, edited and
parts written by William Howard Thompson and published by
the Thomas Cottam Family Organization 1987, all rights
reserved.
The Coat of Arms above is from this book and the
following quotations:
"Family tradition says we are descended from General
Cotta of the Roman army, who came to England and stayed--a
adding "m".
Origin of Cottam Name
"The Cottam family names is of English origin,
particulary from Yorkshire and Lanchashire, however there
was a "John De Cotum: ( a medieval spelling of the name) in
Northumberland on the Scottish border as early as 1273
listed in the Hundred Rolls of that year. The name means
from Coteham, the name of parishes in both Yorkshire and
Lancshire. The family is also found in Fifeshire, Scotland
in the 1600s, where for some reason most of them spelled it
a 'Cotton'. "The Coat of Arms is Blazoned as 'Gules, a
chevron between three cresents argent." (Joe T. Boyes,
Heraldic Production Unlimited, PO Box 1592, Burbank, CA
91505)
"Others say it comes from Old Norse Cott - cottage;
Danish Ham - Hamlet, or little cottage near the hammlet, one
coming from there was from Cottam, or John of Cottam, and
eventually John Cottam. There are four places named Cottam
in England, all in the central area, which could add to
either theory that it was Norwegian and Danish influence or
from General Cotta who built roads there. (Cottam and Parry
genealogy, GD F 1,036,668)"
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