Use of “court house” as a place name

[alain27]

Civil War history newbie here. Am reading a book about the events in April 1865 in Grant’s and Lee’s armies. The book refers to places like Amelia Court House and Appomattox Court House. Was just wondering, were there actual court houses (in the modern sense) in these places? Or did “Court House” mean something different back then? Just seemed odd to use “court house” as part of a place name, but maybe that was the fashion in those days. Thx.

 

[5fish]

Civil War history newbie here. Am reading a book about the events in April 1865 in Grant’s and Lee’s armies. The book refers to places like Amelia Court House and Appomattox Court House. Was just wondering, were there actual court houses (in the modern sense) in these places? Or did “Court House” mean something different back then? Just seemed odd to use “court house” as part of a place name, but maybe that was the fashion in those days. Thx.

I think this answers your question...

Frequently Asked Questions - Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

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The surrender occurred in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia in a private home owned by the McLean family. In Virginia many of the towns which were county seats were called "Court House". The building is spelled courthouse (one word) and the town is Court House (two words).

 

[5fish]

It seems they were just county seats...

Amelia Court House, Virginia - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Amelia Court House (also known as Amelia Courthouse and Amelia) is the county seat of Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia[2][3] and a census-designated place (CDP).[4] The population as of the 2010 census was 1,099.[5] The town was named for Princess Amelia of Great Britain, the second daughter of Great Britain's King George II, in 1735.

 

[alain27]

Thank you both. Very helpful!

 

[rittmeister]

welcome aboard - a court house in the uk is a house that has buildings on three sides of a court. as the lord of the manner normally held the lower judicary that kind of a court is derrrived from the building

 

[jgoodguy]

welcome aboard - a court house in the uk is a house that has buildings on three sides of a court. as the lord of the manner normally held the lower judicary that kind of a court is derrrived from the building

Which led to the development of English Common Law which went to English colonies. It is distinct from Civil Law which is the most common law system used by 2/3s of the Worlds countries.