Show ContentsCodd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Codd

What does the name Codd mean?

The name Codd is from the rugged landscape of Wales. It is a Celtic name that was derived from Cudde or Codling, which were both pet-forms of the personal name Cuthbert. 1

Another source claims the name is derived from the "Anglo-Saxon personal name Cod, Coda, Codda [Old English codd, meaning a bag]." 2

During the 16th century, a codder was a worker in leather, a saddler, or a peltmonger. Thus, Codd may also be an occupational surname applied to someone involved in one of these trades.

Early Origins of the Codd family

The surname Codd was first found in Cornwall, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

"The manor of Methleigh, [in the parish of Breage, Cornwall] was formerly the property of Sir Thomas Arundell, of Truthall in Sithney, from whom it passed by sale to the family of Coode, about the commencement of the last century. In this family it has since remained, and it is now the property of Edward Coode, Esq. of St. Austell." 3

"In the church [of Morvall, Cornwall there] are memorials for the families of Mayow, Kendall, and Coode. For William Coode who died in 1637, there is a monument containing figures of himself and his wife, in a kneeling attitude. These are in bas relief on slate; behind each of which is a vine, and on four of their principal branches, are death's heads." 3

Early History of the Codd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Codd research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1586, 1635, 1648, 1672, 1689, 1690, 1709, 1765 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Codd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Codd Spelling Variations

Although there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Codd have included Code, Codd, Codde, Coad, Coade and others.

Early Notables of the Codd family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Code of Gridley Castle in Devon; and John Coode (c. 1648-1709), born in Penryn, Cornwall, he left England...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Codd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Codd family to Ireland

Some of the Codd family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Codd migration to the United States +

Many Welsh joined the great migrations to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Like their Scottish and Irish neighbors, many Welsh families left their homeland hoping to find hope and prosperity in a land that the English did not exercise a tight rule over. Those Welsh immigrants that successfully traveled to North America went on to make significant contributions to the rapid development of both Canada and the United States in terms of the settling of land and the establishment of industry. They also added to the rich cultural heritage of both countries. An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Codd:

Codd Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Codd, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 4
  • Baltasar Codd, who arrived in Maryland in 1638 4
  • George Codd who settled in Virginia in 1643
  • Bartholomew Codd, who landed in Maryland in 1660-1661 4
Codd Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • St. Leger Codd, who landed in Virginia in 1708 4
  • Lewis Codd, who landed in Virginia in 1714 4
Codd Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Codd, who arrived in America in 1811 4
  • Bridget Codd, aged 37, who landed in Massachusetts in 1812 4
  • Nicolas Codd, aged 50, who arrived in Maine in 1812 4
  • William Codd, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1812 4
  • Edward Codd, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Codd migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Codd Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Codd, who arrived in Canada in 1816
  • Geo Codd, who arrived in Canada in 1820

Codd migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Codd Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Charles Codd, British convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • Janet Codd, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 6

Codd migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Codd Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Nicholas Codd (Cross), (b. 1796), aged 51, Irish settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 7
  • Mrs. Codd (Cross), Irish settler with 2 sons and 3 daughters travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 7
  • Miss Codd, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "England" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th February 1867 8
  • Charles Codd, aged 22, a farm labourer, who arrived in Napier aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1879
  • Joseph Codd, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Napier aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1879

Codd migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 9
Codd Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • James Codd, who settled in Barbados in 1680

Contemporary Notables of the name Codd (post 1700) +

  • Robert Codd, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1924 10
  • Mary T. Codd, American politician, Representative from New York 17th District, 1980; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1984 10
  • J. Leon Codd, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1948; Member of Virginia State House of Delegates, 1950 10
  • George Pierre Codd (1869-1927), American Republican politician, Mayor of Detroit, Michigan, 1905-06; Member of University of Michigan Board of Regents; Elected 1909; Circuit Judge in Michigan 3rd Circuit, 1911-21, 1924-27 10
  • George E. Codd, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Detroit, Michigan, 1879-85 10
  • Edgar F. Codd (1923-2003), British computer scientist
  • Edgar F Codd (1923-2003), British computer scientist


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LLOYDS from London 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Lloyds.htm
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  10. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook