COUSIN
The surname Cousin is of French origin and is derived from the Old French word cousin, which in turn comes from the Latin term consobrinus meaning *brother* or *relative*.
In the Middle Ages the word was employed as a nickname for a person closely related to another, or for someone treated as family by virtue of a close bond. It was often applied to individuals who were regarded as kinsmen to prominent people in their local community, and in some instances the nickname was used even for those who made frequent use of the word “cousin” as a familiar address.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name is that of Roger Cusin, dated to 1166 in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk during the reign of King Henry XI. This evidence shows that the name was in use in England shortly after the Norman Conquest when French words and names began to appear in English records.
During the Middle English period (1200–1500) the term continued to be used broadly to refer to any relative. As a patronymic it became one of the most frequent forms of the name, and it spread from France to England, then to other parts of Europe.
In the late seventeenth century a number of French Huguenots fled persecution and settled in the United Kingdom, bringing the surname with them. Since that time Cousin has been found in English-speaking countries to which French emigrants have moved, such as the United States and Canada.
The surname has many variants that reflect different pronunciations and regional spellings. These include Cousins, Couzins, Cossins, Cosin, Cosyn, and similar forms. In French-speaking areas it is also seen as Le Cousin or Les Cousins, while German and Dutch records sometimes show spelled variations such as Cozens or Cozens.
Notable bearers of the name include Alexander Cozens, a landscape painter in watercolours who died in 1786. He was born in Russia, reputed to be the son of Peter the Great, studied art in Italy and settled in England in 1746, gaining renown in the 18th‑century art world.
Today the greatest concentration of people with the surname Cousin remains in France, where it is still common, but it is also widely distributed in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries. According to contemporary genealogical databases it is most frequent in France, followed by the United States.
Because the origin of the name lies in a simple descriptive nickname rather than a familial relationship, the surname does not in itself imply blood ties. It rather denotes a term of closeness or affection that has been inherited through subsequent generations.
Typical given names associated with the Cousin surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Gary
- James
- John
- Mark
- Maurice
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Scott
Female
- Alison
- Arlene
- Elizabeth
- Jill
- Louise
- Margaret
- Marie
- Marilyn
- Rebecca
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Susan
- Valerie
Similar and related surnames
- Casin
- Cassin
- Casson
- Causin
- Cawson
- Cosens
- Cosin
- Cossens
- Cossin
- Cossins
- Cosyns
- Couisins
- Cousain
- Cousens
- Cousien
- Cousine
- Cousineau
- Cousines
- Cousinne
- Cousino
- Cousins
- Coussins
- Coussis
- Coustin
- Cousyn
- Couzens
- Couzin
- Couzins
- Cucina
- Cuisins
- Cushin
- Cusin
- Cusine
- Cusins
- Cuskin
- Cussen
- Cussin
- Cussins
- Gasson
- Kusin
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Cousin in...
Braille
⠉⠕⠥⠎⠊⠝
Morse
-.-.---..-.....-.
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Cousin are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Ginger Nut.
There are approximately 767 people named Cousin in the UK. That makes it roughly the 9,064th most common surname in Britain. Around 12 in a million people in Britain are named Cousin.
Surname type: Status name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Cousin
- Andy Cousin - Musician
- David Cousin - Architect (1809 to 1878)
- Alan Cousin - Scottish football player (1938 to 2016)
- Anne Ross Cousin - Scottish musician and songwriter (1824 to 1906)
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.