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Show ContentsCousins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Cousins is rooted in the ancient Norman culture that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was a name for someone who was a person who was related to someone of note in the area. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old French, cusin, and the Old English, cousin, which means relative. 1

Early Origins of the Cousins family

The surname Cousins was first found in Norfolk and in the southern counties of England, where the first on record appears to be Roger Cusin, listed in the Pipe Rolls in that county in 1166. Robert Cusyn and his wife Joan were landowners in Ellisfield, Hampshire during the Reign of Henry III (1216-1272). Peter Cusin was a sheriff of London in 1273. A Galfridus Cusyn of Hardingham, Norfolk is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls for that county in 1327. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists: Johannes Cosyn, tiropour; Ricardus Cosyn; and Alicia Cosyn, 1379. 2

Early History of the Cousins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cousins research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1535, 1541, 1547, 1549, 1558, 1585, 1594, 1597, 1672, 1697, 1743 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cousins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cousins Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Cousin, Cousins, Cozens, Cossins, Couzins, Cossens, Cosin, Cosyns, Cousens, Couzens, Cossins, Cosin and many more.

Early Notables of the Cousins family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edmund Cosin, Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University in 1558. He was "a native of Bedfordshire, entered King's Hall, Cambridge, as a bible clerk; proceeded B.A. early in 1535, M.A. in 1541, and B.D. in 1547." 3Benjamin Cosyn, probably a son of John Cosyn, who in 1585 published sixty psalms in six parts in plain counterpoint. He was eminent as a composer of lessons for virginals. Many of his pieces are extant. He flourished in the first half of the 17th century.John Cosin (1594-1672), was an English churchman...
Another 95 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cousins Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cousins World Ranking

In the United States, the name Cousins is the 3,190th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 4 However, in Australia, the name Cousins is ranked the 977th most popular surname with an estimated 4,056 people with that name. 5 And in the United Kingdom, the name Cousins is the 763rd popular surname with an estimated 8,779 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Cousins family to Ireland

Some of the Cousins family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Cousins migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Cousins or a variant listed above:

Cousins Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Cousins, who settled in Maine in 1626
  • George Cousins, who settled in Massachusetts in 1635
  • Richard Cousins, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 7
  • James Cousins, who settled in Virginia in 1670
  • Mary Cousins, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 7
Cousins Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jo Cousins, who settled in Georgia in 1735
  • Edward Cousins, who settled in Maryland in 1774
Cousins Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Cousins, aged 31, who landed in Maryland in 1813 7
  • Miss Mary Cousins, (b. 1809), aged 23, British settler departing from Plymouth aboard the ship "Andromeda" arriving in the United States on 10th May 1832 8
  • Miss Betsy Cousins, (b. 1831), aged 8 months, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth aboard the ship "Andromeda" arriving in the United States on 10th May 1832 8
  • George Cousins, aged 21, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1849 7
  • Thomas Cousins, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Cousins migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cousins Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • James Cousins, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Benja Cousins, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
  • Mr. John Cousins U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 9
Cousins Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Anne Cousins, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1810

Australia Cousins migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cousins Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Cousins, (b. 1800), aged 28, Irish milliner who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for robbery, transported aboard the "Fergusson" on 16th November 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1838 10
  • Mr. Stephen Cousins, (b. 1790), aged 40, English ploughman who was convicted in Norfolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 20th August 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
  • Emma Cousins, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on December 14, 1835, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 12
  • John Cousins, who arrived in Glenelg Roads aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1838 13
  • Sarah Cousins, who arrived in Glenelg Roads aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1838 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Cousins migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cousins Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Jane Cousins, (b. 1827), aged 31, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maori" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th April 1858 14
  • Mr. Henry Cousins, (b. 1828), aged 30, British joiner travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maori" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th April 1858 14
  • Mr. Richard Cousins, (b. 1834), aged 24, British painter travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maori" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th April 1858 14
  • Mr. John Cousins, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Excelsior" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th March 1859 14
  • Mr. George Cousins, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Excelsior" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th March 1859 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cousins (post 1700) +

  • Derryl Cousins (1946-2020), American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB) who worked in the American League (AL) from 1979 to 1999
  • William Cousins Jr. (1927-2018), American lawyer, jurist, Member of the Chicago City Council
  • William J. Cousins, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State Senate 14th District, 1960 15
  • William Cousins, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1972 15
  • W. R. Cousins Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Member of Texas State Senate, 1950 15
  • W. R. Cousins (b. 1881), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Texas State Senate 4th District, 1921-24, 1929-33 15
  • Thomas J. Cousins, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 1916 15
  • Robert Gordon Cousins (1859-1933), American Republican politician, Member of Iowa State House of Representatives, 1886; U.S. Representative from Iowa 5th District, 1893-1909 15
  • Marshall Cousins, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, 1916 15
  • Jimmy Cousins, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Mayor of Kinston, North Carolina, 2009 15
  • ... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Royal Oak
  • Hubert John Cousins (1919-1939), British Supply Assistant with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 16
  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  9. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fergusson
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
  12. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1835 with 132 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1835
  13. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The PESTONJEE BOMANJEE 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838PestonjeeBomanjee.htm
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, May 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  16. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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