Cosens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Cosens

What does the name Cosens mean?

The Pictish clans of ancient Scotland were the ancestors of the first people to use the name Cosens. It comes from in the lands of Cossins near the Castle of Glamis, the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth II.

Early Origins of the Cosens family

The surname Cosens was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Cosens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cosens research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1509 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Cosens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cosens Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Cosens has appeared Cossens, Cossins, Cossons, Cosen, Cosens and others.

Early Notables of the Cosens family

More information is included under the topic Early Cosens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cosens migration to the United States +

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Cosens name:

Cosens Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Cosens, who landed in Virginia in 1674 1

Cosens Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Cosens, who arrived in Virginia in 1719 1

Cosens Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Thomas Cosens, who arrived in Chile in 1906 1

Cosens migration to Australia +

Cosens Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mary A. Cosens, aged 22, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Fortune" 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Cosens (post 1700) +

Sergeant Aubry Cosens (1921-1945), Canadian soldier awarded the Victoria Cross during WWII 3

Sources +

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)
South Australian Register Thursday 8th June 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Fortune 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/fortune1854.shtml
Aubry Cosens. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Aubry Cosens. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_Cosens