Cohn
A Jewish surname originally tied to the priestly name Cohen, later also used in German-speaking regions in shortened or variant form.
The #3,758 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 32,755 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Cohn is most commonly a spelling variant of Cohen, the Hebrew word for a priest. In Jewish surname use, it often points to descent from the priestly class associated with the Temple in Jerusalem. German and Yiddish spelling habits helped produce forms like Cohn, Cahn, and related variants.
History
The name became especially common among Ashkenazi Jews in Central and Eastern Europe, where it appears in many spelling forms. The historical sources also note that Cohn was used in the Netherlands as a German-style Jewish surname form. In English-language records, Cohn often appears alongside Cohen as a variant spelling rather than a separate origin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname dictionaries specifically describe Cohn as a common Jewish name formed from Cohen, while Dutch sources note it as a Germanic spelling used in the Netherlands.
From the historical record
“Pagan le Archier. E. CoHn le Archer, co. Hercf., 45 Hen. HI. BBB. William Gilbert, rector of Ridles^'orth, CO. Norf., presented by Alexandrina Ic Archer, 1375 : FP. i. 275.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)