Cochrane
A Scottish locational surname derived from the lands of Cochrane in Renfrewshire, meaning "the Raven's hill."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 9,700 Americans carry the last name Cochrane. That puts it at #4,246 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.83 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 35,335 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cochrane 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
9.7K
1 in 35,335
Census rank
#4,246
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
8.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 8,355 bearers of the surname Cochrane in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.83 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4246th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cochrane, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.4%. The next largest groups are Black (7.8%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cochrane
The surname Cochrane is of Scottish origin, with its earliest known bearers hailing from the region of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The name is derived from the Old Gaelic word "cochran," meaning "small red place" or "little red stream," referring to a geographical location associated with the family's ancestral lands.
The earliest recorded instance of the Cochrane name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls rendered to King Edward I of England after his conquest of Scotland. One entry mentions a "William de Coughran" from Renfrewshire, likely an early variant spelling of the surname.
In the 14th century, the Cochrane family rose to prominence with the exploits of Sir Robert Cochrane, a renowned Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Sir Robert's bravery and loyalty earned him substantial land grants in Renfrewshire, cementing the family's ties to the region.
The Cochrane name also appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the late 15th century, with records indicating land holdings in the counties of Ayr and Renfrew. One notable figure from this period was William Cochrane, Lord of Cowdoun, who served as a diplomat and ambassador under King James III.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Cochranes established themselves as a prominent noble family, with several members holding influential positions in the Scottish court and government. Sir William Cochrane (1605-1679), a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War, was appointed Lord Privy Seal of Scotland by King Charles II in recognition of his loyalty.
Another notable figure was Thomas Cochrane, 6th Earl of Dundonald (1689-1737), a Scottish nobleman and distinguished naval officer who served as Governor of Newfoundland and Commander-in-Chief of the North Sea Fleet. His descendant, Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald (1775-1860), was a renowned naval captain and radical politician who played a pivotal role in the Chilean War of Independence and the Greek War of Independence.
In later centuries, the Cochrane name continued to be associated with notable figures in various fields, including Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane (1758-1832), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars, and Alva Cochrane (1885-1977), an American songwriter and composer best known for penning the classic "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes."
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cochrane
Among Census respondents with the surname Cochrane, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.4%. The next largest groups are Black (7.8%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Cochrane 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 Cochrane surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.4%
- Black or African American7.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races2.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cochrane 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 | #3,961 | #4,246 | -7.2% |
| Count | 8,228 | 8,355 | 1.5% |
| Per 100K | 3.05 | 2.83 | -7.2% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Cochrane bearers went from 8,228 to 8,355 (+1.5% change). The surname moved down 285 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,961 to #4,246.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cochrane
FAQ
Cochrane surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cochrane?
The surname Cochrane holds position #4,246 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 9,700 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.83 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cochrane surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cochrane, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.4%. The next largest groups are Black (7.8%) and Hispanic (2.7%). 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.