Cowdrey Family History

English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Coudrai in Seine-Maritime France or Coudray in Eure France, or from Cowdray or Cowdry in Sussex England. The latter was probably named after one of the places in France.

All are named with Old French coudraie ‘hazel copse’ (a collective noun from coudre ‘hazelnut tree’ Late Latin colurus, a metathesized form of classical Latin corylus, from Greek korylos).

Alternatively, but less likely, a topographic name from Old French coudraie ‘hazel copse’ adopted into English denoting someone who lived near a hazel copse.