Coy Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Coy last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Coy last name
Meaning of the Coy last name: quiet / reserved. Coy is an English surname from Middle English coy, 'quiet, reserved or shy', a nickname that stuck. The last name is found in the Midlands and later in the United States. A curious detail: the same Old French word coi, meaning calm, also gave English the everyday adjective coy.
Arms associated with the Coy name
Coats of arms associated with the Coy last name belong to the English heraldic tradition, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Coy family history
This is only a glimpse of the Coy story. The full Coy history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Coy coat of arms. Get the full Coy report.
Coy name FAQ
What does the Coy name mean?
Quiet / reserved. Common variants include Coye.
Where does the Coy surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Coy coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Coy coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).