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

Cosner, 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 Cosner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cosner in America

Cosner is the 12850th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cosner surname appeared 2,396 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 Cosner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cosner 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 Cosner

The surname Cosner has its origins in the French region of Normandy, dating back to the Middle Ages around the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French words "cos" meaning "neck" and "ner" meaning "black" or "dark," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone with a dark complexion or tanned skin tone, particularly around the neck area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cosner can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Roger Cosner, who held estates in the county of Hampshire.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert Cosner was recorded as a monk at the Benedictine Abbey in Canterbury. He is known for his contributions to the abbey's library and his scholarly work on religious manuscripts.

During the 16th century, the name Cosner appeared in various historical documents across Normandy and neighboring regions. One notable individual was Jean Cosner, a merchant and landowner from the town of Rouen, who was involved in the textile trade and served as a local magistrate.

In the 17th century, the surname Cosner spread to other parts of Europe, including England and Germany. One notable bearer of the name was Wilhelm Cosner (1620-1688), a German theologian and philosopher who wrote extensively on the intersection of religion and natural philosophy.

Another significant figure was Elizabeth Cosner (1692-1772), an English author and poet who gained recognition for her works on moral and religious themes. Her collection of poems, titled "Virtuous Reflections," was widely circulated in literary circles of the time.

As the surname Cosner continued to evolve and spread across different regions, various spelling variations emerged, such as Cosner, Cosnier, and Cosniere. Additionally, some derivatives and localized versions of the name included Cosnerio in Italy and Cosnerov in Eastern Europe.

Over the centuries, the Cosner surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including scholars, merchants, artists, and politicians. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Normandy, the name has since become a part of the cultural fabric of various nations and communities around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cosner

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

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

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

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