Corry

This interesting name is Scottish in origin, and is a locational surname from anyone of the places in Arran, Dumfriess and other areas named "Corried". The name derives from the Gaelic word "coire", meaning "cauldron", and is used here in the transferred sense of a circular hanging valley on a mountain. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man made features in the landscape provided easily recognizable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages.There are two forms of the modern surname, "corry" and "corrie", and both are recorded between the 12th Century and 13th Century, Radulph de Corry witnessed a charter by Henry de Grahame in circa 1200 (Mortan). One Walter de Corry or de Corri, cousin and an heir of Helewisa de Levynton, rendered homage to Edward 1 in 1274 for his portion of her lands. Thomas Corry of Keldwood, a follower of the Earl of Cassilis, was acquitted of murder in 1526. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hugh de Corried, charter witness, which was dated circa 1194 - 1211, in the "Records of Holm Cultram", during the reign of King William, known as "The Lion of Scotland", 1165 - 1214. 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.