(origin: Local) A town of France which stands on a hill on the banks of the small river Clairy, about fifty-six miles south of Paris. This small town has imparted its name to several princes, whose actions are celebrated in French history. The name signifies "The court near the water."

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

COURTENAY. COURTNEY. Though the pedigree of this family is carried up to Pharamond, the founder of the French monarchy in the year 420, Gibbon only traces the residence of the race at Courtenay, in the Isle of France, to the year 1020. Indeed it would be useless to attempt to carry the origin of the surname beyond that point, notwithstanding the extremely curious and ingenious suggestion which follows : In the history of France we find, that "Charlemagne avaitdonne I'Aquitaine, avec le titre de roi, a son fils Louis, sous la tutelle de Guillaume au CouH-Ncz, due de Toulouse." Now who knows but the great French family of the Courteuays, and the illustrious Courtenays of Devonshire, may owe their name to this deficiency of nose in William of Toulouse? Though he does not pretend to get at the root, Gibbon only traces the family to 1020, when they were established at Courtenay ; but the sobriquet was given about the year 790, and might huve conferred a name upon tliC castle which William inhabited, and the country round it." N. & Q. vi. 106.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.