This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the causeway,' more correctly, causey, a paved way. In Promptorium Parvulorum spelt cawenuey from the French chaussce. A 'causey' runs over a moss in my old parish at Ulverston. It is as old as the register (1542). The surname, however, seems peculiar to Devon.

'Richard Cosway, painter (1740-1821), was born at Tiverton, Devon': Dictionary of National Biography.

Nathaniel Causey and Thomas Causey, settlers in Virginia, 1623: Hotten's Lists of Emigrants.

Robert de Chauct, Wiltshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John de Chausy, Gloucestershire, ibid.

Geoffrey de Chauseya, or Chausi, or Chausie, Oxfordshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

1715. Baptised — Catesby, s. James Causey: St Michael, Cornhill.

1795. Married — John Palmer and Susannah Cawsey: St. George, Hanover Square.

1800. — James Cosway and Sarah Willson: ibid.

(Anglo-French-Latin + English) Dweller at a Causeway [Middle English causey-way; Old Norse French caucie (French chaussée) -F English way, Low Latin calciata (via), a paved way]

"Of this ancient family, originally wrote Coigniers, denominated from a place of that name in France, was Roger de Coigniers, that came into England about the end of the reign of Will, the Conqueror, to whom the bishop of Durham gave the constableship of Durham." Kimber. The family gave the suffix to Howton Coigniers, co. York.

Probably a corruption of causeway, as that is of calcetum, a road of chalk formed across a marsh or low ground. Such a road traversed the valley of the Arun in Sussex, and a priory which stood near one of its extremities was called De Calceto.

From Coosrea, Coozvean; from coose-vean, the little wood.

Local. From Coigniers, in Normandy, their ancient residence; came into England with William the Conqueror.

Cossey: Cossey is an old Norwich name. In 1472, Henry Cossey, who was afterwards rector of Wilby, was a noted friar of the Dominican convent in Norwich; and there were then others of the name in that city. About the same time John Cossey was rector of Cougbam (Bl.).