Stephanus Van Cortlandt, first lord of the Manor of Cortlandt, was the son of the Hon. Oloff Stevensen Van Cortlandt, immediately descended from one of the most noble families in Holland, their ancestors having emigrated thither, when deprived of the sovereignty of Cortlandt. b

The orthography of the surname is properly Corte-landt; the first syllable Corte or Korte, meaning in the Dutch language short;6 the second, landt, (land) literally the short land, a term expressing the peculiar form of the ancient Duchy of Courland in Russia.

Courland in Russia, ( says Schieutzler, ) formerly constituted a portion of Livonia, but was conquered by the Teutonic Knights in 1561. It subsequently became a fief of Poland. After the fall of the power it remained for a short time independent under its own Dukes, but in 1795 it was united to Russia. d

In the early part of the seventh century, we find the Dukes of Courland engaged in the Military service of the United Netherlands. The Ducal troops are said to have rendered great assistance in the reduction of the towns of Kaverden and Minden.

The coat armor of the Van Cortlands as recorded in the Hall of Records at Amsterdam in Holland, and as given by Burke and likewise as brought by the family to this country in 1637, are the following: -- Arg. the wings of a wind-mill soltier-ways sa, voided of the field, five estoiles or etoiles gu. -- Crest -- surmounting the helmet of a King or Prince of the Blood Royal ; an estoil or etoile gu. between two wings