Show ContentsCosh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Cosh family

The surname Cosh was first found in Hampshire where the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Cosham, held by Geofrey, a Norman noble, from Hugh de Port who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Today Cosham is a suburb of Portsmouth, but back in early times, the Domesday Book the place name was known as Coseham [1] and literally meant "homestead or enclosure of a man called Cossa." [2]

Alternatively the name could have originated from the root name Cosh and in his case, it was from the Middle English "cosche, cosshe" which meant "small cottage, hut, hovel." [3]

In this latter scenario, the first record of the family was Robert Cosh who was listed in Leicestershire temp. Edward I. About the same time, Lucas de la Kosche was listed in the Assize Rolls for Essex in 1248 and Roger de Coyssh was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. [3]

Early History of the Cosh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cosh research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1248, 1296, 1554, 1572, 1576 and 1624 are included under the topic Early Cosh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cosh Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cosham, Gosham, Cosh, Coyish, Coysh, Cossam, Cossum, Coshum, Goshem, Coshem, Coshalme, Cossam and many more.

Early Notables of the Cosh family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Stephen Gosson (1554-1624), English author, 'a Kentish man,' admitted scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, 4 April 1572. "He graduated B.A. at the...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cosh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cosh family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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