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

Cothren, 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 Cothren surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cothren in America

Cothren is the 16864th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cothren surname appeared 1,691 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 Cothren.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cothren 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 Cothren

The surname Cothren originated in England, specifically in the county of Derbyshire during the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cot" and "ryn," meaning "cottage" and "stream" or "brook," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name referring to a cottage near a small stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Coterine." This manuscript, commissioned by William the Conquer, was a survey of landholdings and population in England at the time. The inclusion of the name in this historic document indicates that the Cothren family had established roots in Derbyshire by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Cotherene" and "Cotheren," reflecting the evolving spelling over time. During this period, the Cothren family was concentrated primarily in the Peak District of Derbyshire, known for its rugged landscapes and rich mining history.

One notable figure from this era was Sir John Cothren, a knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence under King Edward I in the late 13th century. He was recorded as being from the village of Cothren, which may have been named after the family or vice versa.

In the 16th century, the spelling of the name stabilized to its modern form, "Cothren." During this time, the family expanded their presence beyond Derbyshire, with branches settling in neighboring counties such as Staffordshire and Cheshire.

A prominent member of the Cothren family in the 17th century was William Cothren (1605-1678), a wealthy landowner and merchant who played a significant role in the economic development of the town of Uttoxeter in Staffordshire. His legacy is still celebrated in the town, with a street named after him.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Cothren (1762-1843), a renowned herbalist and midwife from the village of Tideswell in Derbyshire. Her vast knowledge of medicinal plants and expertise in traditional healing practices made her a respected figure in the local community.

In the 19th century, members of the Cothren family were involved in various industries, including mining, textile manufacturing, and agriculture. One such individual was John Cothren (1828-1901), a successful mine owner who contributed significantly to the coal mining industry in Derbyshire and surrounding areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cothren

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

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

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

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