Corse (surname)
Encyclopedia
Corse is a European surname
with several apparently independent origins. An English origin traces to Corse, Gloucestershire
, a location in South West England
. A Scottish origin can be traced to one of several specific locations in Scotland
, or alternatively to a location type, as in a locale resembling a "cross". Another origin appears from Scandinavia
as a 17th century variant of the surname Carsten. The United Kingdom and Scandinavia may not account for all origins of the 'Corse' surname, as records show that the largest number of immigrants (albeit yet small) into the United States
bearing this surname originated in Italy
and Sardinia
. One point of origin of the Corse surname into the United States was through the person of James Corse in the late 17th century, on whom a significant amount of genealogical research has been expended.
"Corse" was apparently uncommon in 19th and 20th century United States and England. In 1891 the surname was found in London and several counties of England (7 of 39) and Wales (1 of 13). In the United States in 1840, the surname was concentrated in New York
, Vermont
and to a lesser extent in Pennsylvania
with a smattering in the remaining states (total of 10 out of 26). From 1840 to 1920, instances of the surname spread to most continental states (missing in 15 states of 50, including Alaska
and Hawaii
).
The Corse surname is shared by several notable people:
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
with several apparently independent origins. An English origin traces to Corse, Gloucestershire
Corse, Gloucestershire
Corse is a village in the English county of Gloucestershire.St Margarets Church is mainly 14th century. Corse Court is mediaeval.The settlement of Snig's End, about 1½ miles from the village, was the site of a settlement for industrial workers under the auspices of the National Land Company in...
, a location in South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
. A Scottish origin can be traced to one of several specific locations in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, or alternatively to a location type, as in a locale resembling a "cross". Another origin appears from Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
as a 17th century variant of the surname Carsten. The United Kingdom and Scandinavia may not account for all origins of the 'Corse' surname, as records show that the largest number of immigrants (albeit yet small) into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bearing this surname originated in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
. One point of origin of the Corse surname into the United States was through the person of James Corse in the late 17th century, on whom a significant amount of genealogical research has been expended.
"Corse" was apparently uncommon in 19th and 20th century United States and England. In 1891 the surname was found in London and several counties of England (7 of 39) and Wales (1 of 13). In the United States in 1840, the surname was concentrated in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and to a lesser extent in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
with a smattering in the remaining states (total of 10 out of 26). From 1840 to 1920, instances of the surname spread to most continental states (missing in 15 states of 50, including Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
).
The Corse surname is shared by several notable people:
- Montgomery D. Corse (1816–1895), American Civil War officer
- John M. CorseJohn M. CorseJohn Murray Corse was an American politician and soldier who served as a general in the Union Army in the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
(1835–1893), American state politician and Civil War General
See also
- CorseCorsicaCorsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, a former département of France located on Corsica, split in 1975 - Haute-CorseHaute-CorseHaute-Corse is a French department. It constitutes the northern part of the island of Corsica.- History :The department was formed on 15 September 1975, when the department of Corse was divided into Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud...
, a modern département of France located on Corsica, formed in 1975 - Corse-du-SudCorse-du-SudCorse-du-Sud is a French département composed of the southern part of the island of Corsica.- History :The department was formed on 15 September 1975, when the Corse department was divided into Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud...
, a modern département of France located on Corsica, formed in 1975