Map of England showing where the Courtney arms are recorded
The Courtney arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of 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 Courtney 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Courtney Family in England
The surname Courtney has deep roots in the English county of Devon, where the family established a significant presence by the early seventeenth century. The name is locative in origin, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place name in France called Courtenay. During the medieval period, members of the family migrated from the continent to England, eventually settling in the southwestern region of the country. By the year 1620, the family had become well-established landowners and local figures within Devon society. Their history is closely tied to the development of rural estates and the management of agricultural lands during a time of great social change in England. Over the generations, the family became deeply integrated into the local community, leaving a lasting mark on the history of the region through their involvement in local governance and trade.
Courtney Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
curtis
Derived from the Old French term for a court or courtyard.
This name
CourtneyOriginally a nickname for someone who lived near a court or was of courtly behavior.
also spelled
Courtenay
Curteney
Related arms
Courtenayvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Cleaveland, Ezra, A Genealogical History of the Noble and Illustrious Family of Courtenay, 1735
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
