 From the late 15th century, if not earlier, two main branches of the Cotter family in County Cork are evident, one based at Coppingerstown Castle, the other at Inismore (Great Island, "Oileán Mór an Barraigh", on which the port of Cobh, formerly Queenstown, stands).The family name was usually recorded as 'MacCotter' until the 17th century when the form 'Cotter' becomes almost universal.However, in writings using the Irish language (Gaelic) the name remained "Mac Coitir".