COSTEN
Costen is a surname of English origin, with etymological roots that can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the medieval given name Costin, itself a diminutive form of the Latin name Constantine.
In Latin, Constantine originates from constans, a word meaning “steadfast” or “constant.” Consequently, the surname Costen may be interpreted to signify “son of Constantine” or “descendant of Constantine,” indicating a paternal lineage linked to a person bearing the given name.
Historical records attest to the early appearance of the name in England. The earliest documented spelling is that of Hen Costen, dated to 1182 and recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire during the reign of King Henry XI. This demonstrates that the surname was already in use at the close of the 12th century.
Additional evidence of the name’s presence emerges from Norman influences. The Domesday Book of 1086 lists a Willelmus Filius Constantini (Latin for “William, son of Constantine”), and the Curia Regis Rolls of Norfolk in 1207 contain a Herbert Filius Constantini or Costin. These entries show the name’s integration into English nomenclature following the Norman Conquest.
In the Isle of Man the surname took on a distinct form. It is recorded as a contraction of Mac Austeyn, from the Gaelic Mac Augustin meaning “son of Augustin.” Here, Augustin is derived from the Latin augere, meaning “to increase.” The forms Mac Coisten and Mac Costen were documented in 1511.
The spread of the name is further illustrated by parish records. A marriage between Simon Costan and Bridget Carr was recorded in Hillingdon, London, on 16 February 1624. Another union, between Thomas Costain and Kate Birch, was noted at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on 31 May 1846.
Some scholars propose that Costen may also be a variant of the locational surname Coston, which is Anglo‑Saxon in origin. The place name Coston in Norfolk derives from the Old English words cotes (“cottages”) and tun (“settlement or enclosure”), suggesting that early bearers of the surname might have hailed from such a settlement of cottages.
The suffixes -en and -in commonly attached to medieval names functioned to denote “son of,” reinforcing the patronymic interpretation of Costen as “son of Constantine.” Variations over time, resulting from dialectal differences and handwritten transcription errors, have produced a range of spellings.
While the surname is not widespread today, it has appeared in the United States, particularly in the states of Georgia and Virginia. In the United Kingdom, instances remain rare, with records primarily in England and the Isle of Man. The name has also been documented in countries that received English emigrants, such as Canada and Australia, but it remains infrequent overall.
Numerous orthographic variants exist, reflecting the fluid nature of English orthography over the centuries. These include Costin, Costan, Costain, Coosten, Costan, Coasten, and, upon closer examination of the roots, surnames such as Costello and Coster may share phonetic similarities, though a definitive genealogical link would require specialised research. Other alienised forms, such as O'Costin or McCostin, may indicate Irish influence, while names like Kostin and Kausten echo the phonetic motif across languages.
Ultimately, the surname Costen illustrates the complex interplay of Latin, Norman, Anglo‑Saxon, and Gaelic linguistic influences that shaped English nomenclature during the Middle Ages and beyond. Its persistence into the modern era, though limited in frequency, provides valuable insight into patronymic naming practices and regional surname development in the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Costen surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Garry
- James
- John
- Mark
- Matthew
- Michael
- Neil
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Robert
Female
- Ann
- Christine
- Juliet
- Laura
- Margaret
- Maria
- Mary
- Sally
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
- Victoria
- Wendy
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 Costen in...
Braille
⠉⠕⠎⠞⠑⠝
Morse
-.-.---...-.-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 388 people named Costen in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named Costen.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
