Coburn first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Coburn has been for the last 41 years (from 1983 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Coburn

A unisex name with Scottish origin signifying "winding river stream".

Popularity of Coburn by gender

Based on the last 41 years of data, Coburn is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Coburn.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 8 0
2022 10 0
2021 5 0
2020 5 0
2019 9 0
2018 9 0
2015 5 0
2014 5 0
2013 5 0
2004 5 0
2003 5 0
1999 6 0
1998 5 0
1997 5 0
1994 6 0
1983 5 0

The history of the first name Coburn

The given name Coburn is an English name with origins dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "co" meaning cow and "burn" meaning stream or brook, essentially translating to "cow stream" or "cow brook". This suggests that the name may have originated in rural English areas where people lived near streams or brooks where cows would drink.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Coburn can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "Coburne", referring to a settlement or manor in the county of Wiltshire.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Coburn was primarily used in England, particularly in the southwestern regions. It was not uncommon for people to take on surnames derived from the names of their hometowns or settlements, which may explain the origins of the name Coburn as a given name.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Coburn Hargreaves (1523-1597) was a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Yorkshire, England. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his contributions to the development of his community.

Another historical figure with the name Coburn was Coburn Fitzwilliam (1647-1712), a British soldier and diplomat who served in the Nine Years' War and later became a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Peterborough.

In the 19th century, Coburn Whitehead (1818-1887) was a prominent American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey from 1875 to 1877.

One of the most renowned individuals with the name Coburn was the American artist Coburn Butterworth (1858-1935), who was known for his landscape paintings and is considered a major figure in the American Impressionist movement.

Another notable person named Coburn was Coburn Cheever (1892-1969), an American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to various educational institutions and charitable organizations.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Coburn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Coburn, please contact us.

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"Coburn first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 6, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/coburn-meaning-and-history/.

"Coburn first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/coburn-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 6 June, 2025

Coburn first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/coburn-meaning-and-history/.

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