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

Cosay, 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 Cosay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cosay in America

Cosay is the 87335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cosay surname appeared 213 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cosay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cosay 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 Cosay

The surname COSAY has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from an old French word "cosse," meaning a pod or husk, indicating that the name may have been occupational, referring to someone who worked with pods or husks.

COSAY is thought to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire, where it was first recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1166. These were ancient records maintained by the Exchequer of England, detailing the collection of taxes and other financial transactions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name COSAY can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed landowners and their holdings. A certain Robert COSAY was listed as a landowner in the village of Coleshill, Warwickshire.

In the 14th century, the COSAY name appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, where a William COSAY was mentioned in 1349. This record provides evidence of the name's spread across different regions of England.

The COSAY surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Cosey, Cossaye, and Cossay. These variations were common due to inconsistent spelling practices and regional dialects during the Middle Ages.

Noteworthy individuals who bore the COSAY surname include:

1. Sir John COSAY (c. 1420 - 1488), a prominent knight who served under King Edward IV during the Wars of the Roses.
2. Elizabeth COSAY (c. 1550 - 1622), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from Warwickshire, known for her generous donations to local churches and charities.
3. William COSAY (1615 - 1671), a member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London, renowned for his exquisite metalwork and jewelry designs.
4. Thomas COSAY (1712 - 1780), a successful merchant and trader who established a prosperous business in Bristol, importing goods from the Americas.
5. Mary COSAY (1820 - 1892), an influential educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded one of the first girls' schools in Manchester.

While the COSAY surname has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has left a notable legacy in various fields, from knighthood and philanthropy to craftsmanship and education.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cosay

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

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 Cosay 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 Cosay 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 Cosay was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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