Courtney is a name of Old French origin, introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It has two quite distinct interpretations: firstly, the surname may be locational, from places called Courtenay in the regions of Loiret and Gâtinais. The House of Courtenay was a significant French family with close association with both the French and English royal lines; in England the Courtenays were Earls of Devon. Secondly, in some cases, bearers of the surname may be of Irish descent, since Courtney is also an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Curnain", descendant of Curnan, from an Old Irish personal name of obscure origins. Recordings of the name from London Church Registers include: the christening of Thomas Courtney at All Hallows, London Wall, on 11 November 1569, and the marriage of William Courtney and Mary Lucas on 22 March 1590, at St Dunstan's, Stepney. John Courtney and his wife, Sybill, were early immigrants to America, leaving London on the Paule in July 1635, bound for Virginia. An early coat of arms granted to the family depicts a blue fesse between three torteaux on a gold shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Reginald de Curtenay, which was dated 1164, in "Feudal Documents from the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds", Suffolk, during the reign of King Henry II. People with the surname Brendan Courtney (born 1971), Irish television presenter Charles E. Courtney (1849–1920), American rower and rowing coach C. F. Courtney (died 1941), manager of Australian mining and ore treatment company Christopher Courtney (1890–1976), British Royal Air Force officer Clint Courtney (1927–1975), American baseball player Dave Courtney (born 1959), British author and self-proclaimed ex-gangster Duane Courtney (born 1985), English footballer Eamon Courtenay (born 1960), Belizean politician Ernie Courtney (1875–1920), American baseball player Henry A. Courtney Jr. (1916–1945), US Marine Corps Reserve officer during World War II and Medal of Honor recipient Jack Courtney (disambiguation), multiple people Jacqueline Courtney (born 1946), American actor Jai Courtney (born 1986), Australian actor James Courtney (born 1980), Australian racing driver Janet E. Courtney (1865–1954), British scholar, writer and feminist Joe Courtney (politician) (born 1953), American lawyer and Democratic politician Joel Courtney (born 1996), American film actor John Courtney (disambiguation), multiple people Jon Courtney (1918–1997), British musician Leonard Courtney, 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith (1832–1918), British politician and man of letters Lou Courtney (born 1943), American musician Mel Courtney,