This interesting surname is of Scottish locational origin from a village and parish so called west of the city of Edinburgh. The placename is of uncertain origin but believed to be from the Old Gaelic elements "cor" a round hill, "sturr" rough, plus the Old English pre 7th Century "penn" a pen, enclosure; hence "an enclosure on a rough hill", and may originally have been an enclosure where animals were kept. The surname is first recorded in the early half of the 16th Century, (see below). George and Thomas Corstorphin in Crail were cited before the Privy Council (1567). Martin Corstorphine of Blarymonth was heir of Martin Corstorphin, Portioner of Byrehillis (1608). Other recordings of the surname from the Edinburgh parish church registers, Midlothian, include; Katherine Corstorphine who married John Liddell on October 31st 1736; on January 21st 1750, Elizabeth Corstorphine and Charles Copland took place on March 24th 1751; and William Corstorphine married Jean Hutchison on December 8th 1754. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of George Corstrophyne, which was dated 1526, Register of the Collegiate Church of Crail, during the reign of King James V of Scotland, 1513 - 1542. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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