This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Caldecote.' Whatever this local term may mean, it is variously scattered. Of parishes alone there is a Caldecote in the the Dioceses of Ely, Peterborough, and Worcester; and a Coldecott in the the Dioceses of Peterborough and St. Albans. Mr. Lower says there is a Caude-Cote in Normandy. He adds, 'It is a singular fact, says the Rev. John Taddy, that "wherever we have traces of a Roman road, we find hamlets in the near neighbourhood of it of the name of Caldecott. I could quote abundance of such" (Papers of the Architect. Soc of Northampton, York, Lincoln, and Bedford).'

Henry de Caudecote, Suffolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

William de Caudecote, Buckinghamshire, ibid.

Alexander de Caldicote, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Albin de Caldecote, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Edmund de Caldicote, Buckinghamshire, ibid.

Roger de Caldecote, Northumberland, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

1752. Married — Alex. Caldicutt and Ann Goodman: St. George's Chapel, Mayfair.

1758. Married — Thomas Parsley and Susanna Caldecott: St. George, Hanover Square.

1783. — William Callcott and Ann Wheeler: ibid.

CALDCOTT: Most probably from Coldcoat now Macbiehill in Peeblesshire. There was a manor of Caldcote in Huntingdon forfeited by Bruce in 1304 (Bain, II, 1540, 1837), but Peeblesshire Coldcoat seems most likely source of the name. Geoffry de Caldecote witnessed a resignation of lands in Annandale a. 1245 (Bain, I, 1682). Galfridus de Caldcot witnessed a charter by James Steward of Scotland in 1294 (RMP., p. 96), as Galfridus de Caldecotes witnessed a charter by Robert de Brus, lord of Annandale in same year (HP., II, p. 130), and as Geffrey de Caldecote of the county of Edeneburk rendered homage in 1296. His seal bears a head in profile and S' Galftidi de Caldecote (Bain, II, p. 201,546). Robert de Cauldcotys or Caldcotys witnessed a charter of the lands of Lamberton in 1332 (BNCH., XVI, p. 327), and the seal of S' Johannis Caldecot is appended to a charter by John of Caldecotys to William of Caldecotys, his son of the lands of Grayden in the earldom of March c. 1360 (Seals Supp., 157). John de Caldicotys, dominus de Hoton, was a charter witness in 1361 (PSAS., XXIII, p. 30), and the seal of Cristiane de Caldecottis is appended to the renunciation by her of the lands of Grayden and Sympryne in 1424 (Macdonald, 310). The seal of John Caldecote of that Ilk, c. 1387, bears the legend S' iohannis caldcotys (ibid., 309). Caldcottis 1459.

(English) belonging to Caldecott or Caldecot(e = the Cold Cot (a name for a fireless, wayside shelter) [Old English c(e)ald, cold + cot, a cottage]

“Cold Hut” (Cottage). Name common in West of England.

There are many localities in England bearing this name, and there is also a Caude-Cote in Normandy. Like Cold-Harbour, about which so much has been written, the Caldecots are said to lie principally in the vicinity of Roman roads. "It is a singular fact," says the Rev. John Taddy, "that wherever we have traces of a Roman road, we find hamlets in the near neighbourhood of it of the name of Caldecott. I could quote abundance of such." Papers of the Architect. Soc. of Northampton, York, Lincoln, and Bedford, Vol. II., page 429. The Caldecotts of Rugby claim from Calcot or Caldecote, co. Chester, of which place their ancestors were mesne lords in the time of the Conqueror. B.L.G.

Local. (Welsh.) Col—dow—cwtt, Colcoit, the neck of the wood. O'Connor derives Caldecott from Cald—i—scot, the inclosure of the Scot; a locality hemmed in by Glamorgan, the Wye, and high lands on the north. A village in Hertfordshire, England.