Show ContentsCozart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Cozart

What does the name Cozart mean?

Cozart is a name whose history dates possibly as far back as 1066 when the Normans first arrived in Britain following their Conquest of the island. It was a name for 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 Cozart family

The surname Cozart 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 Cozart family

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

Cozart Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Cozart include Cousin, Cousins, Cozens, Cossins, Couzins, Cossens, Cosin, Cosyns, Cousens, Couzens, Cossins, Cosin and many more.

Early Notables of the Cozart 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 Cozart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cozart Ranking

In the United States, the name Cozart is the 6,607th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Cozart family to Ireland

Some of the Cozart 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.

Migration of the Cozart family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Cozarts to arrive on North American shores: John Cosins who settled in Maryland in 1683; Richard Cousin settled in Grenada in 1774; Edward Cousins settled in Maryland in 1774; George Cousins settled in Massachusetts in 1635.


Contemporary Notables of the name Cozart (post 1700) +

  • Bernadette Cozart (1949-2009), American professional gardener, botanist and urban gardening advocate
  • Winfield F. Cozart, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1916 5
  • Benjamin Hubbard Cozart (1839-1911), American politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate 21st District, 1883-84 5
  • Zachary Warren "Zack" Cozart (b. 1985), American Major League Baseball shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds
  • Charles Rhubin "Charlie" Cozart (1919-2004), American Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Cylk Cozart (b. 1957), American television and film actor, known for his roles in Conspiracy Theory (1997) and 16 Blocks (2006)


  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. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook