The name Cortright is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon
culture. It is a name for someone who worked as a maker of carts, and wheels.
The name has its origins in the Old English word craet,
which means cart,
and the Old English word wyrtha,
which means wright
thereby denoting one who was the maker of carts or wagons.
Early Origins of the Cortright family
The surname Cortright was first found in Worcestershire
, some say well before the Norman Conquest
in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Cortright family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cortright research.Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1755, 1634, 1676, 1659, 1634, 1689, 1686, 1602, 1658, 1686, 1635 and 1703 are included under the topic Early Cortright History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Cortright Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few hundred
years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon
surnames like Cortright are characterized by many spelling variations
. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Cortright include: Cartwright, Cartright, Cartwrite, Carthright, Kartwright, Kartright, Cartrite, Kartwrite, Chartwright, Cartrite, Catherick, Cartrait, Cartray, Ceterith, Cateray, Cautheret, Carterwright, Carterright, Carterrite, Chartright, Chartwright, Cardwright and many more.
Early Notables of the Cortright family (pre 1700)
Notables of the family at this time include William Cartwright (1634-1676), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659; Thomas Cartwright (1634-1689), an English bishop and diarist, Bishop of Chester in 1686, supporter of James II; Christopher Cartwright (1602-1658), an English clergyman, Hebraist... Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cortright Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Cortright family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Cortright or a variant listed above:
Cortright Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Nancy R. Cortright, aged 22, who emigrated to the United States, in 1908
- William S. Cortright, who landed in America, in 1911
- Mrs. William S. Cortright, who settled in America, in 1911
- Len John Cortright, aged 28, who emigrated to the United States, in 1918
Contemporary Notables of the name Cortright (post 1700)
- Ion John Cortright (1889-1961), American college football player and coach
- Major General Stephen Phelps Cortright USAF (b. 1941), American military officer and attorney, Adjutant General of Oklahoma
- David Cortright, American scholar and peace activist, Director of Policy Studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies
- Edgar Maurice Cortright (b. 1923), American scientist and engineer, former senior official at the NASA, Chairman of the Apollo 13 Review Board
Cortright Family Crest Products