Coutts

This long-established surname is of early medieval Scottish origin, and is a territorial name either from the lands of Cults in Aberdeenshire (now part of the Grampian region), so called from the Gaelic "coillte", woods, with the latter addition of the English plural "-s"; from Cults, a parish South West of Cupar in mid Fifeshire; or from the lands of Couttie, which formerly belonged to the Abbey of Coupar-Angus, old spellings of which were Cowte and Cultby. Locational surnames, such as this, were originally given to local landowners, and the lord of the manor, and especially as a means of identification to those who left their birthplace to settle elsewhere.

Early examples of the surname include: John (Angus, 1392); William Coutts and his family who were established in the earldom of Mar, Aberdeenshire, by a Crown charter in 1433; Alexander Couts, noted in the Episcopal Register of Glasgow in 1483; and William Coutts, who became provost of the town of Montrose at the close of the 16th Century. On February 22nd 1736, Jane Couttes and John Mure were married at St. Mildred Poultry, London, and on July 5th 1812, Charles Frederick, son of John Couttes, was christened at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, London.

A Coat of Arms granted to the family is a silver shield with a stag's head couped red, in chief a pheon azure, all within a bordure embattled of the last. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Cotis, which was dated 1343, in the "Episcopal Register of Moray", Scotland, during the reign of King David 11 of Scotland, 1329 - 1371.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Coutts#ixzz1w9lINJBj

 from Scottish Arms: a Collection of Armorial Bearings

Other References

Coutts and Couts are English-language surnames derived from the Gaelic-language. The names are derived from the Gaelic cuilt, meaning "nook". It also was a habitational name from Cults, Aberdeen, Scotland.

William Coutts, a Coutts of Auchintoul, was a vassal of the Macdonald's, settled in Montrose, in the 16th century and became a provost of the town. The Coutts are associated with the Farquharsons.

http://www.geni.com/surnames/people/coutts

Coutts References from a Farquharson Webiste

From territorial origin in the parish of Cults in upper Deeside. The name is very common in the history of Clan Farquharson. Including Allan Coutts in Tullochcoy under Farquharson of Tullochcoy. James Coutts in Wester Micras under Farquharson of Allanqoich. Donald Coutts husband of Farquharson of Tullochcoy's sister.

Maps*

Map of Great Britain with Scotland marked

Map of  Scotland and the North East with Aberdeenshire/ Banffshire area marked

Map of the coastal area south of Aberdeenshire including Montrose and Arbroath. Coutts of Auchertoul/ Ochertoul, now Westercoul in Cromar, moved here. Various were Provosts and one was the Provost of Edinburgh. Thomas Coutts, Banker, was a desendant. A Coutts of Arbroath was taken prisoner at The Battle of Culloden.

Map of Strathdon & Kirkmichael - Cromar to Corgarff to Tomintoul

Map of Detail of Cromar and district note the 4 main population ares and the flat arable land surrounded by hills which you can make out from the contour lines. Auchertoul, now Westercould, is in Cromar.

Corgarff and 3 Clach Choutsaich's with photo's

Tomintoul and Grantown including Tornimbirrack south of Grantown

Scottish Ethnicity and distribution. Further explanation of Picts and Scottish ethnicity is here

*Most of these maps are pre c1960 from copyright free sources

Some relate particularly of the Cromar area as it appears to be the area most concentrated with Coutts

The Corgarff area relates to story of Clach Choutsaich

The Tomintoul/ Grantown/ Kirchmichael area relates to the author's family - John and Robert Coutts (see Scots families)