Cobain
A variant of the French surname Coban, referring to someone living in a small cottage or cabin.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Cobain. That puts it at #123,064 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cobain surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#123,064
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
140
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 140 bearers of the surname Cobain in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 123064th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cobain, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.0%) and Two or More Races (4.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cobain
The surname Cobain originated in the north of England during the Anglo-Saxon era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'cobbyn', which meant a small shelter or dwelling. The name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a modest abode or hut.
In the Domesday Book, a great survey of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are several references to place names that could be related to the Cobain surname. For instance, the village of Cobbenhai in Worcestershire and the hamlet of Cobbyngton in Derbyshire may have been named after early Cobain settlers in those areas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cobain surname dates back to 1273, when a certain Richard Cobyn was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire. Another early bearer of the name was John Cobayn, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.
During the Middle Ages, the Cobain name appeared to have been concentrated primarily in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Northumberland. Variations in spelling were common, with surnames like Cobayne, Cobyn, and Cobbyn also being used.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the Cobain surname was John Cobayn, a merchant and alderman in the city of York. He lived from around 1510 to 1585 and was involved in civic affairs and trade.
Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Cobain, a landowner and Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was born around 1565 and died in 1623.
During the English Civil War in the 1640s, a Royalist soldier named Captain William Cobain fought for King Charles I. He was killed in battle in 1643 at the age of 38.
In the 18th century, a wealthy merchant and landowner named Robert Cobain lived in the town of Pontefract in Yorkshire. He was born in 1712 and passed away in 1789.
Lastly, in the 19th century, a prominent figure was Sir James Cobain, a British diplomat and ambassador who served in various countries across Europe and Asia. He was born in 1824 and died in 1892.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cobain
Among Census respondents with the surname Cobain, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.0%) and Two or More Races (4.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Cobain bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Cobain surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White74.3%
- Hispanic or Latino20.0%
- Two or more races4.3%
- Unknown or suppressed1.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cobain surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #118,954 | #123,064 | -3.5% |
| Count | 135 | 140 | 3.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Cobain bearers went from 135 to 140 (+3.7% change). The surname moved down 4,110 positions in the national ranking, going from #118,954 to #123,064.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cobain
FAQ
Cobain surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cobain?
The surname Cobain holds position #123,064 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cobain surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cobain, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.0%) and Two or More Races (4.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.