# The given name "Cotton". **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929 "2010-10-03T17:09:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/1 "2010-10-03T17:09:07Z")
Where did the name “Cotton”, as a first name, come from? Is it any reference to the fabric, maybe? Most of the people I know of are from the southern part of North America. There’s a character with the name in “King of the Hill”, an animated tv show, and a NASCAR old timer (driver, I think) named Cotton. Also, I’ve known a couple men with the name while I was growing up in Bakersfield. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/2 "2010-10-03T17:18:12Z")
Cotton probably started as a last name. > **[Cotton - Name Meaning, What does Cotton mean?](https://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Cotton)** > > Thinking of names? Complete 2021 information on the meaning of Cotton, its origin, history, pronunciation, popularity, variants and more as a baby boy name. > [@](#): > > The boy’s name Cotton \c(ot)-ton. Plant name. May originally have been an occupational name from England, though the cotton plant, requiring a warm climate, was never a big source of industry in Britain. In America, great Massachusetts clergyman Cotton Mather’s writings contributed to the Salem witch trials. He was named for his grandfather, early American clergyman John Cotton. As a last name it goes way back in England. > [@](#): > > This long-established surname, with variant spellings Cottam, Cot(t)on, Cottom and Coatham, is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is locational from any of the several places named with the Olde English pre 7th Century “cotum”, meaning “cottages”, for example, Coatham in Nottinghamshire and the North Riding of Yorkshire; Cottam in the East Riding of Yorkshire and in Nottinghamshire (near Retford); and Cotham in Nottinghamshire (near Newark). In the Midlands several places named Coton or Cotton also derive from “cotum”, for example, Coton in Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, and Cotton in Shropshire and Northamptonshire. Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace.The “-um” ending is however, preserved only in the northern counties. The surname was first recorded in the late 12th Century (see below), and Ralph de Cottum was recorded in the 1212 Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire. Recordings from London Church Registers include: the christening of Raphe Cotton on September 21st 1582, at Snaith, and the christening of Sarah, daughter of William Cottham, on January 16th 1701, at Great Mitton. A Coat of Arms granted to this family depicts a black bend between three pellets on a silver shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Randulf de Cotton, which was dated 1185, in the “Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire”, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as “The Builder of Churches”, 1154 - 1189. > > Read more: [SurnameDB | Cotton Surname: Meaning, Origin & Family History](http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Cotton#ixzz11Jj3LfzB) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/3 "2010-10-03T17:18:48Z")
The most famous historical figure with this first name was [Cotton Mather](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_Mather), whose name was derived from his maternal grandfather’s surname, John Cotton. The surname is derived not from the textile (which is from Arabic), but rather means [“cottage homestead”](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Cotton). My guess is that the current use as a given name is, like Cotton Mather’s, originally derived from the surname. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/4 "2010-10-03T18:17:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The most famous historical figure with this first name was [Cotton Mather](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_Mather), whose name was derived from his maternal grandfather’s surname, John Cotton. You beat me to it. His father’s name was Increase. While I can see the biblical connection to the name, it seems odd to name someone Increase. ---
**Author:** ![y58a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/2bfe46/32.png) [@y58a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/y58a)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/5 "2010-10-03T18:29:51Z")
There’s a character named Cotton in Pink Flamingos 1972. Also Babs, Crackers, Edie, Cookie and The Egg Man. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/6 "2010-10-03T19:30:11Z")
In the 1790 census of the U.S., there were 20 people listed with the first name Cotton. 30 were in the 1800 census. 56 by 1830. By 1900, still only 56. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/7 "2010-10-03T19:47:49Z")
Everette Owens’, a NASCAR OG, nickname is “Cotton”. > **[Cotton Owens Garage : The Official Website of Cotton Owens Garage and Home of...](https://www.cottonowens.com/)** > > Cotton Owens Garage has been driving, building and racing Championship Dodges and Mopars since 1946 and is located in Spartanburg, SC. There’s a cool video there if you’re a fan of old Detroit Iron. 🆒 Them fellas sure do talk funny. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/8 "2010-10-04T03:15:09Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > [@Colibri](#): > > > > The most famous historical figure with this first name was [Cotton Mather](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_Mather), whose name was derived from his maternal grandfather’s surname, John Cotton. > > You beat me to it. > > His father’s name was Increase. While I can see the biblical connection to the name, it seems odd to name someone Increase. Fly-Fornication Richardson and Kill-Sin Pimple probably thought names like that were perfectly okay. (As I understand it, it was the habit of Puritan groups in the new world to name children by opening the family Bible at random and using the first word or phrase their eyes alighted upon. It did right by Fear-God Barebone, but If-Christ-Had-Not-Died-For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Damned Barebone changed his name to Nicholas.) [One cite of many](http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2009/03/unusual-puritan-names.html), as the names ought to be easy to google. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/9 "2010-10-04T14:16:07Z")
Old joke: A young Indian man went to his father and asked, “How does our tribe name its children?” His father said, “After the child is born, its father goes to the doorway of the teepee and looks outside. Whatever he first sees is what the child will be named. That is why your sister is Bright Sunrise, and your brother is Green Grass. But why do you ask, Two Dogs Fucking?” ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/10 "2010-10-04T20:01:07Z")
Where did your name come from, Cotton I. Joe? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/11 "2010-10-04T21:39:04Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Where did your name come from, Cotton I. Joe? Cotton Eye is, I think, a nickname for very pale blue eyes. I’ll check. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/12 "2010-10-04T21:58:54Z")
Hmmm. No mention of anything but the song and dance. I swan, I’ve heard the term in usage as someone being “cotton eyed”. A scary one %er (Mongols) in Bakersfield name of Blue because of his pale eye color was said to be cotton eyed. Should that be "cotton-eyed? ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/13 "2010-10-04T22:15:02Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > You beat me to it. > > > > His father’s name was Increase. While I can see the biblical connection to the name, it seems odd to name someone Increase. > > Fly-Fornication Richardson and Kill-Sin Pimple probably thought names like that were perfectly okay. > > (As I understand it, it was the habit of Puritan groups in the new world to name children by opening the family Bible at random and using the first word or phrase their eyes alighted upon. It did right by Fear-God Barebone, but If-Christ-Had-Not-Died-For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Damned Barebone changed his name to Nicholas.) > > [One cite of many](http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2009/03/unusual-puritan-names.html), as the names ought to be easy to google. I’ve always wondered if, when this naming practice was popular among Puritans, it was more common to refer to people by their surnames (± a Mr. or Mrs.), so the practicality of the first name wasn’t really a consideration when naming children. Is this totally off-base? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/14 "2010-10-04T22:56:05Z")
Rayon, of course, is a girl’s name. Nylon can be either male or female. _Nylon Jones_😛 Polyester = Polly Esther. Denim is a man’s name. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/15 "2010-10-04T23:12:37Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > > [@cmkeller](#): > > > > Where did your name come from, Cotton I. Joe? > > Cotton Eye is, I think, a nickname for very pale blue eyes. > I’ll check. > [@mangeorge](#): > > Hmmm. No mention of anything but the song and dance. > I swan, I’ve heard the term in usage as someone being “cotton eyed”. A scary one %er (Mongols) in Bakersfield name of Blue because of his pale eye color was said to be cotton eyed. Should that be "cotton-eyed? We’ve done that one a few times the last ten years. I don’t think it was as simple as “blue eyes.” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/16 "2010-10-04T23:31:11Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > We’ve done that one a few times the last ten years. I don’t think it was as simple as “blue eyes.” _Very pale_ blue eyes, Almost like an albino, but without the pink. I’ll search here though. I’ll bet the words are all too short. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/17 "2010-10-04T23:52:28Z")
Well, this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=273252&highlight=cotton+eyed), (which **samclem** was involved in) from '06, came up in my search. Being blue-eyed or white-eyed were mentioned as possibilities. Due to that and my own history, I’m going with that. ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/18 "2010-10-05T04:33:23Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Old joke: > > A young Indian man went to his father and asked, “How does our tribe name its children?” > > His father said, “After the child is born, its father goes to the doorway of the teepee and looks outside. Whatever he first sees is what the child will be named. That is why your sister is Bright Sunrise, and your brother is Green Grass. But why do you ask, Two Dogs Fucking?” That joke was so old it was commercialised around here. There was a brand of lemonade here sold primarily in pub-type bottle shops called “Two Dogs”. The slogan was “Why do you ask?” ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/19 "2010-10-05T05:06:26Z")
> [@Noel\_Prosequi](#): > > > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > > > Old joke: > > > > A young Indian man went to his father and asked, “How does our tribe name its children?” > > > > His father said, “After the child is born, its father goes to the doorway of the teepee and looks outside. Whatever he first sees is what the child will be named. That is why your sister is Bright Sunrise, and your brother is Green Grass. But why do you ask, Two Dogs Fucking?” > > That joke was so old it was commercialised around here. There was a brand of lemonade here sold primarily in pub-type bottle shops called “Two Dogs”. The slogan was “Why do you ask?” Yeah, it’s an oldie. They used it in the movie **Silkwood.** in 1983 and I’m sure it predates the movie by many years. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929/20 "2010-10-05T11:46:17Z")
I wish Cotton was a monkey. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929.md?page=2)