The Ancient History of the Distinguished Surname COTE

Languedoc is a region in the South of France. The Family name Cote is believed to have originated in this region. Additional to its present boundaries it also included Toulouse and part of the Central Massif. Its Capital is Toulouse. The Romans occupied the region in the year 120. In the 5th century it was invaded by the Vandals, Sueves and the Visigoths. Later, in the 5th Century, the Franks overran Languedoc. The capital, Toulouse, was also the capital of the ancient kingdom of Aquitaine. The family name Cote was first found in Langedoc, where they are recorded as one of the distinguished ancient families in that region. Changes to the spelling have occurred in most surnames. Usually a person spoke his version of his name phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. This depended on accent, and local accents frequently changed the spelling of a name. Some variation were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, we have variations in your surname, Cote, some of which are Cote, Coste, Caute, Cot, Cotte, Cautte,Costte, Kote, Kotte, Kostte, Koste, Kott, Cott, Coute, Gote, Gotte, Gaute, Gaut, Cotey, Coty, Cotée Côté, which were shown in the evolution of the name from older times. Langedoc, in the 10th century, was ravaged by the Muslim invasion from the Moors. From the 11th century and 12th century it passed through the hegemomy of the Lords of Toulouse. It fell prey to the ambitions of the Kings of Aragon and of the Capetians,. Languedoc was also distressed during the Hundred Years War and was severely ravaged. In the 16th century the region also suffered from the religious conflicts between the traditional and the reformed church. The name Cote was found in Langedoc where they were seated with lands and manor. Arnaud Cot is mentioned in the 12th century charter from a cartulary of Saint Sermin of Toulouse. From the original line of Langedoc, the family branched, expanded and prospered. Participating in the political events of the times, Pierre Cot was Consul for the burg of Rodez in 1595. In Dauphiné, Claude Côté was considered to be such a good Treasurer, that the records describe him as an "oracle" in 1472. The family received its letters patent confirming nobility when Claude rendered a service to the Dauphin Louis when the Prince had incurred the wrath of his father King Charles the 7th. The line of the Cotes family of Chastelard contributed greatly to the development of the laws and measures within France through their continued advising and consultation to Parliament and the Court of Counts. Robert Cotte, 1656-1735, was a famous architect (chapel of Versailles, Dôme des Invalides). Noble Raymond Cot was the Prior of Castelar in 1613. The Cot or Cote family were well educated and learned people and there were many instances in the records of this. The Les Cot family of Limoges developed one of the first printing methods, with hot lead type, which they took to Paris in the 1600's. Pierre was an author of a book on the origins of printing in 1707. Jean Pierre Cote, a noted poet, was born in Briancon in 1810. Jean-Leopold left on his death a "dictionnaire de la législation des états sardes" in 1841. Jean André de Cot, descended from the Tournon branch of the family and, born in Briancon in 1789, campaigned against the war of the Empire, and his son Alexis was the owner of the "Journal de Tournon". Notable amongst the family name at this time was Claude Cot, Treasurer of Dauphiné in 1472. France became aware of her European leadership in the early 16th century. The New World beckoned. The explorers led missionaries to North American settlements along the eastern seaboard including, New France, New England, New Holland and New Spain. Jacques Cartier made the first three voyages to New France in 1534. The Jesuits, Champlain and the Church missionaries came in 1608. His plans for developing Quebec fell far short of the objectives of the Company of New France. Champlain brought the first true migrant, Louis Hébert, a Parisian apothecary, and his family, who arrived in 1617. In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Québec. Migration was slow. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. By 1675, there were more than 7000 French in Québec. By the same year, the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. IN 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take the oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. Amongst the settlers in North America for this distinguished name Cote were Elez Cote, aged 22, settled in Virginia in 1635; Johann Hennrich Cothe settled in Pennsylvania in 1738; Auguste Kott, aged 27, settled in Texas in 1846; and Friedich Wilhelm Kott, aged 60, settled in Texas in 1846 with his wife Auguste Weymann 52; Elizabeth Côté settled in Virginia in 1653. The distinguished family name Cote has made significant contributions to the culture, arts, and sciences and religion of France and New France; Melville Peter Cote, College administrator of Harvard University, St. Bar Harbor, Maine; The Honourable Ernest Cote, Deputy Solicitor-Gen. for Canada, Ottawa; The Honorable Jean Cote, Canadian Ambassador to Switzerland; Peter Sydney Arthur Boulting Cotes, Theatrical Producer and Director, London England. During the Course of our research, we determined the most ancient coat of arms recorded against the name Cote The Coat of Arms for the Family Cote was: Red and Silver Interwoven