Coots

Coots
This name is of early medieval English origin, and derives from the Middle English "co(a)te" meaning a coot, and was originally given as a nickname to a bald person. The bird was regarded as bald because of the large white patch, an extension of the bill, on its head. The expression "as bald as a cote" has become standard in English. A sizeable group of early European surnames were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These were given in the first instance with reference to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, or to supposed resemblance to an animal's or bird's appearance or disposition. The surname from this source is first recorded at the beginning of the 13th Century (see below), and one William le Coot appears in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire. Recordings from London Church Registers include: the marriage of John Coote and Agnes Grace on July 5th 1558, at South Mimms; the marriage of John Coote and Catherine Hale on February 1st 1582; and the christening of Agnes, daughter of Lewes Coote, on February 25th 1598, at St. Dunstan's, Stepney. An interesting namebearer, recorded in the "Dictionary of National Biography", was Edmund Coote, who flourished around the year 1597 when he published "The English Schoolmaster", a method of learning English, which went through fifty editions before 1704. In the modern idiom the name has a number of spelling variations, these include: Coot, Coote, Cootes and Coots. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Reginald Cote, which was dated 1201, in the "Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • coots — Scoter Sco ter, n. [Cf. Prov. E. scote to plow up.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of northern sea ducks of the genus {Oidemia}. [1913 Webster] Note: The European scoters are {Oidemia nigra}, called also {black duck}, {black diver}, {surf… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • coots — kuːt n. water bird similar to a duck; fool (Slang); man (Slang) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Boots & Coots — Boots Coots/IWC is one of the world s premier well control companies. Founded in 1978 by Red Adair s lieutenants, Asger Boots Hansen and the late Ed Coots Matthews[1], Boots Coots International Well Control, Inc. was responsible for putting out… …   Wikipedia

  • John Frederick Coots — (May 2, 1897 April 8, 1985) was an American songwriter. He wrote over 700 songs.He is most famous for the song Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history.Among his songs are: *… …   Wikipedia

  • gallinules and coots — vandeninės vištos statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Rallidae angl. gallinules and coots; rails vok. Rallen; Schilfschlüpfer rus. пастушковые pranc. rallidés; râles ryšiai: platesnis terminas – gerviniai paukščiai siauresnis …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • gruiform — /grooh euh fawrm /, adj. Ornith. of or pertaining to birds of the order Gruiformes, including cranes, rails, and coots. [1895 1900; < NL gruiformis, sing. of Gruiformes, equiv. to Gru , s. of Grus a genus of the order (L grus CRANE) + iformes… …   Universalium

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