Origin

This is some information that I found on the internet. The book that I have with my family history starts with John Cornett and I wondered how he came to America. This tells how and who his father and grandfather were.

Erin Cornett was born in 1676 in Northumberland, England; he rasied sheep. There is no record of his wife’s name. His son, Earl, was born in Southampton, England in 1696. He was a farmer and a member of the Church of England. He had seven sons: John, Roger, George, Francis, frank, Jesse, and James. John Cornett was born in Southampton, England in 1727. In 1740, he sailed to the Colonies with six of his brothers. They worked as indentured servants on an English lord’s farm near Philadelphia, PA. After gaining his freedom, John went to Henrico, County, VA (near Richmond) and raised tobacco for a living. He was taxed for land there on March 24, 1747. His will lists that he had six sons and no daughters. His second wife was Elizabeth Bacon Mosby. She was a widow with one son. John died about 1776 at Elks Creek, VA. He was a member of St. John Episcopal Church. Four of his sons fought in the Revolutionary Way (another source says six). These four were later given land grants for their war service. William and Sam settled on Line Fork. Nathaniel and Roger settled in Benge, Clay County. He died about 1776 in Elm Creek, VA. His children where Rebecca Canute Cornett, David Cornett, born about 1750, James Canute Cornett, born about 1755, John Samuel Cornett, born about 1759, Nathanial Cornett born about 1760, William Jesse Cornett, born in 1761 in Henrico County, VA, and Roger Cornett, born about 1768.

Some reference to the last name Cornett has been made to King Canute.

If the Cornett’s descended from Carnutte, one may begin with the Carnutte's history. It is believed by some that the family is descended from King Canutte II of Denmark. King Canutte II of Denmark "Canute the Great" (995-1035). He was the first Danish King of England. Under his rule Norway was conquered. He was the son of Sweyn, King of Denmark.1 On the other hand, if the Cornett’s were of French origin, it is likely that the family came across with William the Conqueror.

Believed by some that the name is Danish and started as Carnute, with variations like: Cornutt, Curnutt, Carnutt, Curnutte, Cornette, etc. Others believe it came from the French name of Corner for their occupation in being a cornet player. The 1990 Census showed the following frequency: Cornett: 1:750 KY; 1:1,000 IN & VA; 1:1,250 TN & OH; 1:5,000 rests of US except 1:10,000 in North East and Upper Mid West.

This tells about different places the Cornett's moved to.

The Cornutt/Cornett family undoubtedly came from England to America through the Jamestown, VA settlement an some of the members moved up the James River into Henrico County, Buckingham County, Rockingham County, thence into Montgomery, Wythe, Grayson, Washington, Russell, Tazewell, and Scott counties and later into Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, as well as California and Oregon.

More information:

There is a CANUTE coat of arms and many of the Cornett’s of older families had this in their homes in Grayson County,VA and passed The KING CANUTE story on down as verbal tradition.

The first Cornett names in booklet or other record is John in Henrico County, VA (county seat is Richmond) and born around 1725 – 1729. Have some records from Henrico County on a Francis in 1747, a roger born 1736 in Henrico County, migrated with family to Washington County (later Russell County) thence to Clay County, Kentucky near Benge where he died in 1817. Same say there were 7 brother in Eastern Virginia some migrating west while the others remained in Henrico County. The records in the Eastern counties named above being searched by several in an effort to complete the history.