UK surname
A Jewish surname of Hebrew origin, derived from the word "kohen," meaning priest.
In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Cohan surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #23,517 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, St George in the East and Christ Church Spitalfields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cohan is 158 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.4%.
1881 census count
71
Ranked #23,517
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1891
158 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cohan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cohan surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 70 | #21,020 |
| 1861 | historical | 149 | #15,373 |
| 1881 | historical | 71 | #23,517 |
| 1891 | historical | 158 | #17,705 |
| 1901 | historical | 51 | #28,492 |
| 1911 | historical | 57 | #27,099 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 62 | #31,735 |
| 1999 | modern | 61 | #31,971 |
| 2000 | modern | 58 | #32,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 62 | #31,798 |
| 2002 | modern | 60 | #32,388 |
| 2003 | modern | 57 | #32,704 |
| 2004 | modern | 56 | #33,067 |
| 2005 | modern | 57 | #33,178 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 60 | #33,743 |
| 2009 | modern | 59 | #34,072 |
| 2010 | modern | 63 | #34,002 |
| 2011 | modern | 61 | #34,121 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 70 | #33,782 |
| 2015 | modern | 71 | #33,666 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel and St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Botolph Aldgate | London (Central Districts) |
| 2 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cohan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cohan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Cohan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cohan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Cohan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cohan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cohan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname COHAN has its origins in Ireland, where it emerged as a variant of the more common Irish surname COHEN. The name can be traced back to the 16th century and is believed to be derived from the Hebrew name "Kohen," which means "priest."
In ancient times, the Cohens were members of the priestly class in the Hebrew tradition, and the name was originally a title bestowed upon those who performed religious duties. As Jews migrated to different parts of Europe, including Ireland, the name evolved into various spellings, such as COHAN, COHANE, and COHANE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name COHAN can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled in the 17th century by Irish Franciscan monks. The annals mention a "Cohan O'Scannill" who lived in the late 12th century and was a notable figure in County Sligo.
In the 19th century, the name COHAN gained prominence with the birth of George M. Cohan (1878-1942), an American entertainer, playwright, composer, and actor widely regarded as the father of American musical theater. His works, including "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Give My Regards to Broadway," have become iconic pieces of American culture.
Another notable bearer of the surname COHAN was Edward Cohan (1905-1977), a British actor and film director who appeared in numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s. He is best known for his role in the 1939 film "The Spy in Black."
In the realm of literature, Emma Cohan (1863-1952) was an American author and educator who wrote several books on children's literature and education. Her works, such as "Stories and Rhymes for Children" and "The Singing Heart," were widely popular in the early 20th century.
The name COHAN has also been associated with sports, with Michael Cohan (born 1969) being a former professional basketball player who spent several seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and played for various teams, including the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat.
While the surname COHAN may have evolved from its original Hebrew roots, it has become a part of the cultural tapestry of various countries, particularly Ireland and the United States, where it has been borne by notable figures across various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cohan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 27 Cohans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.29x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 27 | 3.29x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.88x |
| Cheshire | 7 | 4.58x |
| Kent | 7 | 2.96x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 4.23x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 5.10x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 4.00x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.94x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.74x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.90x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westleigh in Lancashire leads with 9 Cohans recorded in 1881 and an index of 481.28x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Westleigh | 9 | 481.28x |
| Spitalfields London | 8 | 153.55x |
| Beckenham | 7 | 226.54x |
| Thornton In Fylde | 7 | 388.89x |
| Birkenhead | 6 | 49.26x |
| Fawley | 5 | 1111.11x |
| Camborne | 4 | 123.84x |
| North Meols | 4 | 49.75x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 6.01x |
| Salford | 3 | 12.42x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 6.65x |
| St Woollos | 2 | 35.78x |
| Westgate | 2 | 31.35x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 4.85x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 4.79x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 1 | 36.36x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.60x |
| Marston | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Oldham | 1 | 3.77x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.93x |
| Painswick | 1 | 104.17x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 30.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cohan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cohan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cohan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| School | 3 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Tailoress | 2 |
| Tin Miner | 2 |
| Boot Traveller | 1 |
| Boy 2nd Class | 1 |
| Brick Setter | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Carter Wife | 1 |
| Cigar Maker | 1 |
| Cook Domestick | 1 |
| Drawer At Coal Pit | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Excavator | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Inmate Of School | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Lab Out Of Work | 1 |
| Pawnbroker | 1 |
| Pawnbrokers Assist | 1 |
| Pensioner (Navy) | 1 |
| Pensioner Wife | 1 |
| Photographer | 1 |
| Retired Watchmaker | 1 |
| Ship Broker | 1 |
| Ship Brokers Wife | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailors Wife | 1 |
| Tenter At Cotton Mill | 1 |
| Watchmaker (Dealer) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Cohan surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Cohan a modern rank of #33,700.
A Jewish surname of Hebrew origin, derived from the word "kohen," meaning priest.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cohan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.