NameCensus.

UK surname

Cohen

A Jewish surname indicating priestly descent from Aaron, the brother of Moses.

In the 1881 census there were 4,710 people recorded with the Cohen surname, ranking it #942 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,309, ranked #916, up from #942 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cohen is 14,803 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.2%.

1881 census count

4,710

Ranked #942

Modern count

7,309

2016, ranked #916

Peak year

1911

14,803 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cohen had 4,710 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #942 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,309 in 2016, ranked #916.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14,803 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Cohen surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cohen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cohen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cohen over time

The 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 1,372 #2,093
1861 historical 1,685 #1,697
1881 historical 4,710 #942
1891 historical 7,268 #617
1901 historical 12,739 #412
1911 historical 14,803 #329
1997 modern 7,314 #880
1998 modern 7,608 #883
1999 modern 7,564 #896
2000 modern 7,519 #898
2001 modern 7,302 #904
2002 modern 7,430 #904
2003 modern 7,347 #891
2004 modern 7,283 #902
2005 modern 7,145 #908
2006 modern 7,079 #918
2007 modern 7,149 #916
2008 modern 7,182 #917
2009 modern 7,282 #926
2010 modern 7,628 #907
2011 modern 7,511 #906
2012 modern 7,396 #896
2013 modern 7,583 #893
2014 modern 7,556 #901
2015 modern 7,429 #906
2016 modern 7,309 #916

Geography

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Where Cohens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet and Salford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 037 Barnet
2 Barnet 032 Barnet
3 Salford 010 Salford
4 Barnet 035 Barnet
5 Barnet 014 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cohen

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cohen surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cohen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cohen, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Cohen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Cohen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Cohen is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cohen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cohen falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cohen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cohen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cohen

The surname Cohen is of Jewish origin, tracing its roots back to ancient times in the Middle East. It is derived from the Hebrew word "kohen," meaning "priest." The Kohanim were members of the priestly caste who descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses and the first high priest of the Israelites.

Cohen is one of the oldest and most widespread Jewish surnames, reflecting the importance of the priestly lineage in Jewish culture and tradition. The name can be found in various spellings, such as Kohn, Kahan, and Kahane, across different regions and languages.

Historical records indicate that the surname Cohen appeared in early Jewish communities across Europe and the Middle East. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Cairo Geniza, a remarkable cache of Jewish manuscripts and documents discovered in the late 19th century, dating back to the 10th century.

Prominent figures bearing the surname Cohen include:

1. Hayyim Joseph David Azulay (1724-1806), a renowned Sephardic rabbi and scholar known as the "Hida." 2. Shalom Cohen (1772-1845), a prominent Kabbalist and rabbi from Hebron, Palestine. 3. Sir William Cohen (1810-1878), a British politician and Lord Mayor of London in 1868. 4. Hermann Cohen (1842-1918), a German philosopher and one of the founders of the Marburg School of Neo-Kantianism. 5. Leonard Cohen (1934-2016), a renowned Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist, widely acclaimed for his poetic lyrics and distinctive baritone voice.

The surname Cohen has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history. For example, the town of Cohen in France, located in the Normandy region, is believed to have derived its name from early Jewish settlers with the surname Cohen.

While the name Cohen is predominantly Jewish, it has also been adopted by non-Jewish individuals over time, particularly in regions with significant Jewish populations. However, the core meaning and historical significance of the name remain intrinsically linked to its priestly origins within the Jewish tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cohen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cohen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 2,660 Cohens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.78x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2,660 5.78x
Lancashire 693 1.27x
Yorkshire 328 0.72x
Warwickshire 246 2.12x
Surrey 146 0.65x
Northumberland 71 1.04x
Staffordshire 58 0.37x
Kent 54 0.34x
Lanarkshire 51 0.34x
Sussex 51 0.66x
Glamorgan 38 0.47x
Nottinghamshire 35 0.56x
Hampshire 33 0.35x
Durham 31 0.23x
Gloucestershire 23 0.26x
Norfolk 22 0.31x
Lincolnshire 21 0.29x
Somerset 17 0.23x
Cheshire 16 0.16x
Devon 16 0.17x
Derbyshire 15 0.21x
Essex 14 0.15x
Monmouthshire 11 0.33x
Leicestershire 10 0.20x
Midlothian 9 0.15x
Channel Islands 8 0.59x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.21x
Suffolk 6 0.11x
Cumberland 3 0.08x
Dorset 3 0.10x
Royal Navy 3 0.55x
Berkshire 2 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.07x
Cornwall 2 0.04x
Westmorland 2 0.20x
Worcestershire 2 0.03x
Angus 1 0.02x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.03x
Inverness-shire 1 0.07x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x
Wiltshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 458 Cohens recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.02x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 458 101.02x
Spitalfields London 450 130.08x
Mile End Old Town London 310 31.67x
Cheetham 202 49.62x
Leeds 173 6.72x
Birmingham 167 4.32x
St George In East London 154 35.60x
Manchester 148 6.03x
Liverpool 136 4.10x
Mile End New Town London 121 133.16x
Paddington London 118 6.98x
Islington London 107 2.40x
Bethnal Green London 101 5.05x
St Botolph Aldgate London 85 89.74x
Hackney London 75 2.91x
Shoreditch London 75 3.76x
St Pancras London 69 1.86x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 66 101.38x
St Marylebone London 53 2.16x
Brighton 47 3.00x
Holy Trinity 43 3.92x
Kensington London 42 1.64x
Edgbaston 41 11.40x
Old Artillery Ground 36 90.91x
Newington 33 1.94x
Barony 32 0.85x
Lambeth 32 0.80x
West Derby 30 1.88x
Clerkenwell London 29 2.67x
Sheffield 29 2.00x
Westgate 28 6.61x
Westminster St James 27 5.71x
Toxteth Park 26 1.41x
Aston 25 0.78x
Nottingham St Mary 25 1.56x
St Luke London 25 3.39x
St Anne Soho London 24 9.14x
Bow London 22 3.76x
Hampstead London 21 2.93x
Camberwell 19 0.65x
Oldham 19 1.08x
Chorlton On Medlock 18 2.08x
Salford 18 1.12x
Bedminster 17 2.44x
Bermondsey 17 1.24x
Great Grimsby 16 3.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 1.73x
Stoke Upon Trent 16 0.97x
Jesmond 15 15.58x
St Giles In Fields London 15 6.65x
Chelsea London 14 1.01x
St Andrew Holborn London 14 7.03x
Everton 13 0.75x
Glasgow 13 0.49x
Westminster St John 13 2.32x
Wolverhampton 13 1.09x
Ardwick 12 2.44x
Bishopwearmouth 12 1.02x
Bradford 12 1.09x
Derby All Sts 12 19.95x
Handsworth 12 3.14x
Norton Folgate London 12 79.79x
Portsea 12 0.65x
Bedwellty 11 1.87x
Broughton In Salford 11 2.20x
Deptford St Paul 11 0.91x
St Helen Bishopsgate 11 241.76x
Warrington 11 1.70x
Cardiff St Mary 10 2.27x
Holy Trinity St Mary 10 14.41x
Leicester St Margaret 10 0.80x
St George Bloomsbury 10 3.79x
St James Dukes Place 10 101.83x
Hunslet 9 1.27x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 9 2.20x
Ratcliffe London 9 3.54x
Swansea Town 9 1.37x
Elswick 8 1.46x
Southcoates 8 3.16x
St Peter Port 8 3.17x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cohen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Sarah 188
Rachel 105
Mary 94
Rebecca 92
Annie 84
Esther 82
Fanny 81
Hannah 76
Leah 53
Elizabeth 46
Jane 46
Betsy 45
Rose 43
Amelia 38
Julia 38
Kate 30
Rachael 30
Ellen 28
Rosa 27
Margaret 23
Sophia 23
Ann 21
Caroline 21
Alice 19
Emily 18
Emma 18
Maria 18
Catherine 17
Deborah 17
Louisa 17
Anne 15
Bertha 14
Dora 14
Eliza 14
Florence 14
Milly 14
Miriam 14
Phoebe 14
Flora 13
Martha 13
Minnie 13
Rosetta 13
Clara 12
Frances 12
Henrietta 12
Jessie 11
Polly 11
Ada 10
Kitty 10
Matilda 10

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cohen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Abraham 118
Joseph 104
Isaac 83
Samuel 79
Jacob 77
Morris 77
John 73
Henry 64
David 61
Louis 60
Solomon 60
Harris 49
Lewis 49
Moses 39
Michael 38
Israel 33
Mark 32
William 32
Benjamin 29
Hyman 28
James 28
George 26
Arthur 25
Myer 25
Nathan 25
Alfred 24
Philip 23
Charles 22
Edward 22
Marks 22
Simon 22
Woolf 21
Aaron 18
Harry 17
Phillip 17
Thomas 17
Barnet 16
Lazarus 16
Albert 15
Daniel 15
Moss 15
Alexander 13
Barnett 13
Wolf 13
Emanuel 12
Judah 12
Reuben 12
Maurice 11
Patrick 11
Francis 10

FAQ

Cohen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cohen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,710 people were recorded with the Cohen surname. That placed it at #942 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cohen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,309 in 2016. That gives Cohen a modern rank of #916.

What does the Cohen surname mean?

A Jewish surname indicating priestly descent from Aaron, the brother of Moses.

What does the Cohen map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cohen bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.