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

Cothern, 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 Cothern surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cothern in America

Cothern is the 14824th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cothern surname appeared 2,000 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 Cothern.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cothern 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 Cothern

The surname Cothern has its origins in England, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cothirde," which referred to a cottager or a small farmer who resided in a cottage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry "Godwinus Cothirde" is listed as a tenant in the county of Somerset.

Throughout the centuries, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Cotheren, Cotheryn, Cotherin, and Cothren. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during those times.

The earliest known bearer of the surname was Robert Cotheren, born in 1325 in the village of Cotheren, located in the county of Gloucestershire. This village likely served as the source of the family name, with the surname evolving from the place name over time.

In the 15th century, records show a John Cothern, born in 1442 in the town of Cothern, Wiltshire. He is mentioned in local parish records as a respected landowner and member of the community.

Another notable figure was Sir William Cothern, born in 1521 in the town of Cothern, Dorset. He was a prominent military commander who served in the English armies during the Wars of the Roses and is mentioned in several historical accounts of the time.

During the 16th century, the surname gained recognition with the birth of Thomas Cothern, born in 1587 in the village of Cothern, Somerset. He was a renowned scholar and author, known for his works on theology and philosophy.

In the 17th century, the name is associated with John Cothern, born in 1642 in the town of Cothern, Gloucestershire. He was a successful merchant and landowner, and his descendants continued to carry the name forward in the region.

As the centuries progressed, the Cothern surname spread to different parts of England and eventually to other parts of the world, carried by those who emigrated from their ancestral homelands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cothern

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

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

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

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