Cotton is an Anglo-Saxon surname, derived from place names such as Coton, Cottam and Cotham, which in turn are named for the Old English word cot meaning cottage or hut, and as an (unrelated) French surname, from the diminutive of cotte, meaning coat of mail. Notable people with the surname include: Athletes Amy Cotton (born 1980), Canadian judoka Coby and Cory Cotton (born 1987), co-creators of Dude Perfect Craig Cotton (born 1947), American football player Fran Cotton (born 1947), rugby footballer of the 1970s and 1980s Harold Cotton (cricketer) (1914–1966), Australian cricketer Harold Cotton (ice hockey) (1902–1984), Canadian ice hockey player Henry Cotton (golfer) (1907–1987), English golfer James Cotton (basketball) (born 1975), American basketball player James Cotton (gridiron football) (born 1978), American football player Jeff Cotton (American football) (born 1997), American football player Jharel Cotton (born 1992), American baseball player Keith Cotton (born 1942), rugby footballer of the 1960s and 1970s Lester Cotton (born 1996), American football player Paris Cotton (born 1989), American football player Schea Cotton (born 1978), American basketball player Terry Cotton (born 1946), English footballer Musicians Billy Cotton (1899–1969), British band leader Gene Cotton (born 1944), American pop and folk singer-songwriter James Cotton (1935–2017), American blues harmonica player, singer, songwriter Jeff Cotton (born 1949), American rock guitarist Paul Cotton (1943–2021), American guitar player Politicians and nobility Dorothy Cotton (1930–2018), American civil rights activist George W. Cotton (1821–1892), South Australian politician Norris Cotton (1900–1989), American politician Paul Cotton (diplomat) (born 1930), New Zealand diplomat Robert Bell Cotton (1859–1917), American politician The Cotton baronets Tom Cotton (born 1977), American politician Science and engineering Aimé Cotton (1869–1951), French scientist Cotton effect, named after Aimé Cotton Cotton–Mouton effect, named after Aimé Cotton and Henri Mouton Sir Arthur Cotton (1803–1899), British general and engineer famous for his work in India Arthur Disbrowe Cotton (1879–1962), English plant pathologist, mycologist, phycologist, and botanist Bernard Charles Cotton (1905–1966), Australian malacologist Carl Cotton (1918–1971), American taxidermist Charles Cotton (geologist) (1885–1970), New Zealand geologist Émile Cotton (1872–1950), French mathematician, discoverer of the Cotton tensor F. Albert Cotton (1930–2007), American inorganic chemist Sir Robert Cotton, 1st Baronet, of Connington (1571–1631), antiquarian and bibliophile, creator of the basis of the British Library Television Antony Cotton (born 1975), British actor, best known for his roles in Coronation Street and Queer as Folk (UK) Bill Cotton (1928–2008), British television executive Fearne Cotton (born 1981), English television presenter and radio 1 DJ