Cogan
Usually a locational surname from places called Cogan, though in Ireland it also became tied to the Norman de Cogan family.
The #9,006 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 85,030 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname is commonly explained as coming from the Welsh place-name Cogan, a parish in Glamorgan, so the name originally meant someone "from Cogan." Medieval records also show Anglo-Norman de Cogan bearers, with the French preposition de marking territorial origin. In Ireland, the name was carried by the Norman family of Milo de Cogan, so Irish Cogan is historically imported rather than native in origin.
History
Medieval English records show early spellings in the south-west and elsewhere, while nineteenth-century surname scholars noted that some northern forms may have been confused with similar names such as Cockayne or Coken. In Ireland, the de Cogan family was established after the Norman invasion and became associated with lands in Cork. Later surname forms such as Coggan, Coggin, Coggen, and Coggon are often treated as related variants.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A medieval bearer, Milo de Cogan, is one of the best-known Anglo-Norman figures linked with the surname in Ireland.
From the historical record
“under Edward the Confessor. COGAN. Local. H.R. co. Devon. COGHILL. The baronet descends from John Cockhill of Cockliill, gent., who lived at Kiiaresborough, co. York, temp, llich- ard II. CO HAM. An estate near Torrlngton, CO. Devon, still in possession of the family, who trace their pedigi-ee only to 1547, though…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom