Recorded in many spellings including Cudbert, Curbett, Cuthbert, and the patronymics Curbetson, Cuthbertson, and Kirbitson or Kirbetson, this interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origins, but often prominent in Scotland. It derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century given name "Cuthbeorht", composed of the elements "cuth", meaning famous, and "beorht", - bright. The personal name was borne by a 7th Century saint, bishop of Hexham and later of Lindisfarne, whose body, preserved in Durham Cathedral, was said to work many miracles. There are seventy-two church dedications to him, mostly in the North of England where the name has chiefly flourished, although the town of Kirkcubright is also named after the saint. Austinus filius (son of) Cudberti, is noted in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in the year1202, whilst John Cutberd is noted in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire (1327) and William Cuthbert is listed in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York (1469). In Scotland John Cuthbertson of Aberdeen was a burgess there in 1444, whilst James Cuthbert was a charter witness in Brechin in 1566. Other recordings include Mary Curbetson who married Thomas Burt at St Andrews Enfield, in the county of Middlesex on August 26th 1781. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Cudbriht. This was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, during the reign of King Edward 1st of England, 1272 - 1307.

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