Map of England showing where the Couris arms are recorded
The Couris arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Couris arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Somerset.
Origin & History of the Couris Family in England
The family name Couris finds its historical roots in the lush landscapes of Somerset, England, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1620. During the early seventeenth century, Somerset was a region defined by its productive agricultural lands and growing market towns, providing a stable environment for families to settle and grow. The name itself likely evolved from local dialects or descriptive nicknames common in the West Country, reflecting the way people identified one another in small, tight-knit rural communities. As the family put down roots in this area, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the daily life and regional traditions that shaped life in southwestern England during the Stuart period. This early presence suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local economy and parish life, contributing to the development of the Somerset region long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Curia
Latin term for a division of the Roman people or court.
This name
CourisAn occupational name for someone who worked in or was associated with a court.
also spelled
Courcy
Curcy
DeCourcy
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dunning, Robert, A History of Somerset, 1983
Somerset Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Toulmin, Joshua, The History of the Town of Taunton, in the County of Somerset, 1791
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
