CASH
The surname Cash is a traditional family name found throughout the British Isles, with notable occurrences in England, Scotland and Ireland. It is recorded in Gaelic sources and is often associated with Christian communities in medieval Ireland.
Its origins are multifaceted: it derives from both English and Scottish roots, as well as from a Gaelic linguistic heritage. In Gaelic, the word cas meaning “twist” or “curl” is believed to have influenced the surname, possibly as a descriptive nickname for an individual with curly hair.
In an English context the name is thought to be a topographic designation for a person who lived near a place where money was kept or traded, such as a money chest or a money box. An alternate interpretation considers it a nickname for someone who was wealthy or possessed a substantial amount of money, linking the surname to notions of affluence.
Variations of the surname include Cass, Casse, Cassie, Cassey, Cassy and, in Dublin, simply Cash. These forms are thought to stem from medieval personal names, with Cass and Cassie being diminutive or affectionate forms of the Greek female name Cassandra, which translates as “snarer of men.” The introduction of this name into European records is dated to the 12th century, a period coinciding with the famed Crusades.
Early documentary evidence lists individuals bearing the name in a variety of records: Roger Cass, documented in the Registrum de Dunfermelyn in 1130 during the reign of King David I of Scotland; Casse Rumpe in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridge in 1279; William Casse in the pipe rolls of Essex in 1300; and Elyzabeth Casye marrying William Kendricke at St Dionis Backchurch, London, in 1564. In Scotland, John Cass of Dalkeith was summoned before the Privy Council in 1566. The name also appears in an 1772 Dublin register recorded as James Cash.
The surname’s historical spread reflects both occupational associations and personal characteristics. Its presence in Irish Gaelic records indicates a degree of cultural blending, while its persistence in English and Scottish documents demonstrates its longevity across social classes and regions.
To date, the surname Cash remains a distinct and culturally rich family name, embodying a union of topographic, financial, and descriptive origins that continue to be charted by genealogical scholars and historical linguists.
Typical given names associated with the Cash surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
Female
- Christine
- Eileen
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- June
- Katherine
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Cash in...
Braille
⠉⠁⠎⠓
Morse
-.-..-.......
Semaphore
There are approximately 3,675 people named Cash in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,516th most common surname in Britain. Around 56 in a million people in Britain are named Cash.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Cash
- Johnny Cash - American singer-songwriter and actor (1932 to 2003)
- June Carter Cash - American singer, songwriter and actress (1929 to 2003)
- Craig Cash - Comedy writer and performer
- Rosanne Cash - Singer-songwriter from the United States
- Bill Cash - Politician
- John Carter Cash - American singer, author, songwriter and producer
- Matty Cash - Football player
- Joanne Cash - Lawyer
- Mick Cash -
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.