Find out how popular the last name Cookson is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cookson.

Cookson, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cookson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cookson in America

Cookson is the 10125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cookson surname appeared 3,183 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Cookson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cookson to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cookson

The surname Cookson is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the county of Northumberland, England, during the medieval period. It is derived from the occupational surname "Cook," which was given to someone who worked as a cook or prepared food for a household or establishment.

The suffix "-son" is a common English patronymic suffix, meaning "son of." Therefore, the name Cookson likely referred to the son of someone who was a cook. This naming convention was common in the Middle Ages, where surnames were often derived from a person's occupation or their father's name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cookson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1273, where a person named Adam Cokesone is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname over time.

In the 16th century, the surname Cookson appeared in the records of the parish of Ryton, County Durham, where a family of that name resided. This suggests that the name had spread from its Northumbrian origins to other parts of northern England.

Notable individuals with the surname Cookson include John Cookson (1572-1638), an English merchant and benefactor who founded a school in Newcastle upon Tyne. Another prominent figure was James Cookson (1773-1835), an English industrialist and inventor who played a significant role in the development of the local coal industry.

In the 19th century, a prominent member of the Cookson family was Isaac Cookson (1810-1891), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Cookson Pottery in Newcastle upon Tyne. His son, Christopher Cookson (1842-1924), continued the family's business ventures and was also involved in local politics.

Another notable individual with the surname Cookson was Norman Cookson (1922-2013), a British actor and writer who had a successful career in television and theater. He is best known for his roles in the BBC series "The Two Ronnies" and the popular sitcom "Keeping Up Appearances."

While the surname Cookson has its roots in northern England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through the British diaspora. The name continues to be associated with its occupational origins, reflecting the rich history and traditions of English surname formation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cookson

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cookson.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cookson was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cookson has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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