[1][2] Sir Hugh Courtenay was born 22 March 1327, the eldest son of Hugh Courtenay, 10th Earl of Devon (12 July 1303 – 2 May 1377) by his wife Margaret de Bohun (d. 16 December 1391), daughter of Humphrey Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex (c.1276 – 16 March 1322), by Elizabeth (d. 5 May 1316), the daughter of King Edward I.

[3] Although Vivian (1895)[4] and Richardson (2011) and others suggest that the Sir "Hugh Courtenay" who was one of the founding members of the Order of the Garter was Hugh Courtenay, 10th Earl of Devon (1303–1377),[5] Complete Peerage,[6] follows Beltz, who correctly states that the founding member was the 10th Earl's eldest son and heir apparent, Sir Hugh Courtenay (died 1349), the subject of this article, citing the latter's service in France in 1346, his presence at the siege of Calais in 1347 in the company of his uncle, William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton (died 1360), and his prowess at a tournament at Eltham Palace later that year in which he received from the King, 'as his guerdon, a hood of white cloth, buttoned with large pearls, and embroidered with figures of men in dancing postures'.

[16] While on progress through Dorset, Queen Philippa is said to have placed a piece of cloth of gold as an oblation on his tomb on 2 September 1349.

But it is perhaps no coincidence that Courtenay's last resting place is only 55 kilometres north-west of Melcombe, the port where the Black Death first entered England in 1348.

Had he died in battle or during a tournament, it is likely that his passing would have been recorded since he was the first of the original Garter knights to perish.