Show ContentsCoghill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Coghill come from when the family resided in Cockhill, in Yorkshire. It is from the place-name that the family name is derived.

Early Origins of the Coghill family

The surname Coghill was first found in North Yorkshire, at Cockhill (Cock Hill) where the earliest known bearer of the name was Ralph de Coghull, who was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1286. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Elizabetha de Cokhill and Johannes de Cockhill. [1] There is another Cockhill in Somerset but this was the ancient home of the Carey family. [2]

Early History of the Coghill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coghill research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1633, 1673, 1692 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Coghill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coghill Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Coghill has been recorded under many different variations, including Coghill, Coggshill, Cockhill, Cogdill, Cogdell and others.

Early Notables of the Coghill family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Sir Thomas Coghill

Coghill Ranking

In the United States, the name Coghill is the 16,998th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [3]

Ireland Migration of the Coghill family to Ireland

Some of the Coghill family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 71 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 Coghill migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Coghill or a variant listed above:

Coghill Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mary Coghill, who settled in Virginia in 1684
Coghill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Coghill, aged 36, who landed in New York in 1801 [4]
  • D. J. Coghill, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851

Canada Coghill migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Coghill Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. George Coghill Jr., U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 [5]
  • Mr. George Coghill Sr., U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 [5]

Australia Coghill migration to Australia +

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

Coghill Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • George Coghill, a shoemaker, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Alexander Coghill, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Mitchell" in 1849 [6]
  • Sarah Coghill, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Mitchell" in 1849 [6]
  • James Coghill, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Escort"
  • Mary Coghill, aged 24, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Escort"

New Zealand Coghill 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:

Coghill Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Coghill, Scottish settler from Wick travelling from Leith aboard the ship 'Melbourne' arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 18th March 1861 [7]
  • Mr. Laurence Coghill, (b. 1850), aged 28, Australianfarm labourer from Zetland departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Coghill (post 1700) +

  • John Bruce Coghill Jr., American politician, Majority Leader of the Alaska State Senate
  • John Bruce Coghill (1925-2019), American Republican politician, Member of Alaska Territorial House of Representatives 4th District, 1953-54, 1957-58; Delegate to Alaska State Constitutional Convention, 1955-56 [8]
  • George E. Coghill (1872-1941), English peer, American anatomist
  • George Coghill (b. 1970), American former football safety for the Denver Broncos (1998-2001)
  • John Bruce "Jack" Coghill (b. 1925), American politician, the 8th Lieutenant Governor of Alaska (1990 to 1994)
  • Robert A. Coghill, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1860, 1876 [8]
  • Kenneth Lassiter Coghill, American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Kanawha County, 1965-66; Defeated, 1968, 1970 [8]
  • John M. Coghill, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Maine 3rd District, 1946 [8]
  • John B. Coghill Jr., American Republican politician, Member of Alaska State House of Representatives 32nd District, 2001 [8]
  • Sir John Coghill (d. 1785), English peer, 1st Baronet of the Coghill Baronets of Richings
  • ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Coghill Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Non dormit qui custodit
Motto Translation: No sleep for those on guard.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. 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
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The JOHN MITCHELL 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849JohnMitchell.htm
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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