Show ContentsCosin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient name Cosin is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name was a name given to 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 Cosin family

The surname Cosin 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 Cosin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cosin 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 Cosin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cosin Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Cosin were recorded, including Cousin, Cousins, Cozens, Cossins, Couzins, Cossens, Cosin, Cosyns, Cousens, Couzens, Cossins, Cosin and many more.

Early Notables of the Cosin 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...
  • John Cosin (1594-1672), was an English churchman from Norwich, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. He was born at Norwich where his father, Giles Cosin, was a wealthy citizen. His mother...
  • Richard Cosin (1549?-1597), was a "civil lawyer, born at Hartlepool about 1549, the son of John Cosin of Newhall, lieutenant to Thomas Dudley at the battle of Musselburgh (1547), who was either killed...

Ireland Migration of the Cosin family to Ireland

Some of the Cosin 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 Cosin migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Cosin arrived in North America very early:

Cosin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Francis Cosin, who landed in New England in 1640 [3]
  • Matthew Cosin, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1656 [3]
Cosin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Dic DeLa Cosin, aged 27, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1846 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Cosin (post 1700) +

  • John Cosin (1594-1672), English prelate


  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. 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)


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