Cochrane
Encyclopedia
Cochrane is a surname
with multiple independent origins, two Scottish
and one Irish
. One Scottish version originates from a place in Scotland, and both the Irish surname and the other Scottish surname are anglicisation
s for a Gaelic language surname.
derived from the lands of Cochrane in Renfrewshire
, near Glasgow
. The derivation of the place name is uncertain. One possibility is that it is derived from the Welsh
coch meaning "red"; however this theory is not supported by the early spelling of the name Coueran. Early recorded bearers of the surname are Waldeve de Coueran in 1262; William de Coughran in 1296; and Robert de Cochrane in about 1360.
In Scotland during the 18th century, the surname was used as a Lowland
adaptation of the Scottish Gaelic Maceachrain.
In Ireland the surname was adopted as an Anglicisation of the Irish
Ó Corcráin.
in the counties of Durham
in the North of England and Kent
in the south. In Scotland
, Cochrane is found in high frequency in the counties of South Lanarkshire
, West Lothian
and in Renfrewshire
. The surname is the 784th most common last name in the United Kingdom
. There are a number of spelling variations including Cochran, Cockren, and Coughran.
Together Scotland and England have the highest percentage of the Cochrane surname anywhere in the world. In Ireland
, the surname Cochrane is especially concentrated in the northern province of Ulster
where it was introduced by Protestant Scots settlers during the Plantation period of the 17th century. It was also adopted as an anglicisation by some Corcoran
families.
In Northern Ireland
, the surname Cochrane is concentrated in the counties of Antrim
, Londonderry
, Down
and Tyrone
. James Cochrane, an Ulsterman, was a 19th century entrepreneur who helped the Northern Irish whiskey Bushmills and the Old Bushmills Distillery
gain world wide popularity.
In the United States of America, the first Cochranes arrived amongst the Ulster-Scots
immigrants to the British North American colonies of New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Some of the earliest Cochranes in the United States came from County Antrim
, Northern Ireland, in the early 18th century after obtaining a land grant from the Governor of Massachusetts. Later Cochranes' would arrive from Scotland and England.
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
with multiple independent origins, two Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and one Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. One Scottish version originates from a place in Scotland, and both the Irish surname and the other Scottish surname are anglicisation
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
s for a Gaelic language surname.
Origin of the surname
The name Cochrane originates from a habitational nameHabitational name
A habitational name is a type of name. These names denote the starting inhabited location. Such locations can be any type of settlement, such as: homesteads, farms, enclosures, villages, hamlets, strongholds or cottages. The second element of a habitational name describes the type of settlement...
derived from the lands of Cochrane in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, near Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. The derivation of the place name is uncertain. One possibility is that it is derived from the Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
coch meaning "red"; however this theory is not supported by the early spelling of the name Coueran. Early recorded bearers of the surname are Waldeve de Coueran in 1262; William de Coughran in 1296; and Robert de Cochrane in about 1360.
In Scotland during the 18th century, the surname was used as a Lowland
Scottish Lowlands
The Scottish Lowlands is a name given to the Southern half of Scotland.The area is called a' Ghalldachd in Scottish Gaelic, and the Lawlands ....
adaptation of the Scottish Gaelic Maceachrain.
In Ireland the surname was adopted as an Anglicisation of the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
Ó Corcráin.
Demographics
The surname is especially concentrated in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the counties of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
in the North of England and Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
in the south. In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Cochrane is found in high frequency in the counties of South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
and in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
. The surname is the 784th most common last name in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. There are a number of spelling variations including Cochran, Cockren, and Coughran.
Together Scotland and England have the highest percentage of the Cochrane surname anywhere in the world. In Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the surname Cochrane is especially concentrated in the northern province of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
where it was introduced by Protestant Scots settlers during the Plantation period of the 17th century. It was also adopted as an anglicisation by some Corcoran
Corcoran
Corcoran is an Irish surname. The original Gaelic version being Ó Corcráin meaning "descendant of Corcrán". The personal name Corcrán is a diminutive of the personal name Corcra...
families.
In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, the surname Cochrane is concentrated in the counties of Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
and Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
. James Cochrane, an Ulsterman, was a 19th century entrepreneur who helped the Northern Irish whiskey Bushmills and the Old Bushmills Distillery
Old Bushmills Distillery
The Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is owned and operated by Diageo plc of London, England, and is a popular tourist attraction, with around 110,000 visitors per year...
gain world wide popularity.
In the United States of America, the first Cochranes arrived amongst the Ulster-Scots
Ulster-Scots
The Ulster Scots are an ethnic group in Ireland, descended from Lowland Scots and English from the border of those two countries, many from the "Border Reivers" culture...
immigrants to the British North American colonies of New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Some of the earliest Cochranes in the United States came from County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Northern Ireland, in the early 18th century after obtaining a land grant from the Governor of Massachusetts. Later Cochranes' would arrive from Scotland and England.
People
- Sir Alexander Inglis CochraneAlexander CochraneAdmiral Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane GCB RN was a senior Royal Navy commander during the Napoleonic Wars.-Naval career:...
, British 18th/19th century seaman - Alexander Baillie-CochraneAlexander Baillie-CochraneAlexander Dundas Ross Cochrane-Wishart-Baillie, 1st Baron Lamington , better known as Alexander Baillie-Cochrane, was a British Conservative politician perhaps best known for his association with Young England in the early 1840s.The son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas John Cochrane, he succeeded...
, British Conservative Party (UK)Conservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician - Alun CochraneAlun CochraneAlun "The Cockerel" Cochrane is a Scottish stand-up comedian. He was born in Glasgow and raised in Mirfield, West Yorkshire.-Stand-up comedy:...
, Scottish comedian - Archibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of DundonaldArchibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of DundonaldArchibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of Dundonald was a Scottish nobleman and inventor. The son of Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald, he joined the British Army as a youth and also served time in the Royal Navy before returning to Culross in 1778 after inheriting the Earldom of Dundonald from his...
, Scottish nobleman and inventor. - Sir Archibald Douglas Cochrane, Unionist-Conservative and British Governor of Burma.
- Archie CochraneArchie CochraneArchibald Leman Cochrane was a Scottish doctor whose name is synonymous with scientific method in medicine.-Biography:Cochrane was born in Kirklands, Galashiels, Scotland...
, British physician and researcher, after whom the Cochrane CollaborationCochrane CollaborationThe Cochrane Collaboration is a group of over 28,000 volunteers in more than 100 countries who review the effects of health care interventions tested in biomedical randomized controlled trials. A few more recent reviews have also studied the results of non-randomized, observational studies...
is named. - Sir Arthur CochraneArthur CochraneSir Arthur William Steuart Cochrane, KCVO was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.-Biography:...
, long-serving officer of arms at the College of ArmsCollege of ArmsThe College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in London. - Aaron Van Schaick Cochrane (1858–1943), U.S. Representative from New York, nephew of Isaac Whitbeck Van Schaick
- Dennis CochraneDennis CochraneDennis H. Cochrane is a Canadian politician and civil servant.He graduated from the New Brunswick Teacher's College in 1970, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1974, received a Bachelor of Education in 1974 and a Master of Education in 1981 from the...
, Canadian politician and civil servant. - Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of DundonaldDouglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of DundonaldLieutenant-General Douglas Mackinnon Baillie Hamilton Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald was a Scottish representative peer and a British Army general.-Military career:...
, Scottish representative peer and a British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
general. - Ethel CochraneEthel CochraneEthel M. Cochrane is a Canadian Senator appointed to represent the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.A teacher by training, Cochrane worked as an educator in her native Newfoundland culminating in her period as a school principal...
, Canadian Progressive ConservativeProgressive Conservative Party of CanadaThe Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
senator. - Francis CochraneFrancis CochraneFrancis Cochrane, PC was a Canadian politician.-Municipal career:A prosperous hardware merchant in Sudbury, Ontario, he was the first president of the town's board of trade and later served as mayor of the town in 1897, 1898 and 1902 after winning a council seat in 1896.Along with local...
, Canadian UnionistUnionist Party (Canada)The Unionist Party was formed in 1917 by Members of Parliament in Canada who supported the "Union government" formed by Sir Robert Borden during the First World War....
-Conservative Politician. - Gordon CochraneGordon Cochrane (pilot)Alfred William 'Gordon' Cochrane DSO, DFC and two bars was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. He is one of only four New Zealand born airmen to receive two medal bars to his Distinguished Flying Cross.-Career:Cochrane was born on 10 October 1916 in Rawene,...
(1916-1994), RNZAF pilot during WWII. - Henry Clay CochraneHenry Clay CochraneHenry Clay Cochrane was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the latter half of the 19th Century and early 20th Century...
, US Marine Corps - Lieutenant Hugh Stewart CochraneHugh Stewart CochraneColonel Hugh Stewart Cochrane VC was a recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions, as a 28 year old lieutenant, during the Indian Mutiny. He later achieved the rank of Colonel and commanded the 43rd Foot and its successor, the 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry...
. 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of FootThe 86th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1793 and amalgamated into The Royal Irish Rifles following the Childers Reforms in 1881....
. 1858. Recipient of Victoria Cross after Battle of JhansiJhansiJhansi Hindi:झाँसी, , Marathi: झाशी, is a historical city of India. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighboring rock. This district is on the bank of river Betwa.The National...
during the Indian Mutiny. - Ian Cochrane, British novelist
- John Cochrane (disambiguation)John Cochrane (disambiguation)John Cochrane may refer to:*John Cochrane , Scottish chess player*John Cochrane , diplomat and soldier*John Cochrane , implicated in Monmouth's conspiracy and the Rye House plot...
, several people.- John Cochrane (chess player) (1798–1878), Scottish chess player
- John Cochrane (general)John Cochrane (general)John Cochrane was an American lawyer, Union Army general and politician.-Life:He was the grandson of John Cochran, Surgeon General of the Continental Army....
(1813–1898), Civil War Union general and New York State Attorney General, 1864–1865 - John Dundas CochraneJohn Dundas CochraneCapt. John Dundas Cochrane R. N. , nicknamed the voyageur pédestre in France, was a Scottish traveller and explorer. A nephew of Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, he crossed, on foot, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Russia and Asia to Kamchatka.When back in England, John Dundas...
, British explorer and cousin of Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald - John M. CochraneJohn M. CochraneJohn M. Cochrane was an American judge who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of North Dakota from 1903 to 1904. He died while in office at the age of 45.-External links:*...
(1859–1904), Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court
- Josephine CochraneJosephine CochraneJosephine Cochrane made the first practical mechanical dishwasher in 1886, in Shelbyville, Illinois., although a washing machine device was patented in 1850 by Joel Houghton . Mrs. Cochrane was a rich woman who held many fancy dinner parties...
, American inventor - Justin CochraneJustin CochraneJustin Vincent Cochrane is a professional footballer who plays for Antigua Barracuda and the Antigua and Barbuda national football team.-Club career:...
, British football player - Michael CochraneMichael CochraneMichael Cochrane is an English actor who specialises in playing upper class characters, sometimes with a suaveness that hides their villainy....
, British Actor - Michael Cochrane (musician)Michael Cochrane (musician)Michael Cochrane is an American jazz pianist who has recorded extensively for SteepleChase Records, as well as Soul Note and Landmark Records....
, jazz pianist - Mickey CochraneMickey CochraneGordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
, Hall of FameHall of FameA hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
baseball player. - Nathaniel Day CochraneNathaniel Day CochraneNathaniel Day Cochrane was a British naval officer. He was the son of Hon. John Cochrane, third son of Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald...
, British naval officer - Nathan CochraneNathan CochraneNathan Cochrane is an Australian technology journalist and Editor-in-Chief for IT publications and , both of which are published by Haymarket Group. Cochrane previously edited the in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers...
, Australian journalist - Ralph CochraneRalph CochraneAir Chief Marshal Sir Ralph Alexander Cochrane, GBE, KCB, AFC, RAF was a British pilot and Royal Air Force officer, perhaps best known for his role in Operation Chastise, the famous "Dambusters" raid....
British RAF Air MarshalAir MarshalAir marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
WW2 - Robert CochraneRobert CochraneRobert Cochrane was an architect or mason who lived in the reign of King James III of Scotland. There exists a good deal of controversy about him, and some broader issues about the reign of James III...
, architect to the court of King James III of Scotland - Rory CochraneRory CochraneRory Cochrane is an American actor. He is known for playing Ron Slater in Dazed and Confused, Lucas in Empire Records, and Tim Speedle in CSI: Miami.-Early life:...
, American Actor - Ryan Cochrane (soccer), American soccer player
- Ryan Cochrane (swimmer)Ryan Cochrane (swimmer)Ryan Andrew Cochrane is a Canadian long-distance swimmer. Cochrane is an Olympic bronze medalist as well as the reigning double gold medalist in both the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. He holds multiple world championship medals...
, Canadian swimmer - Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of DundonaldThomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of DundonaldAdmiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, 1st Marquess of Maranhão, GCB, ODM , styled Lord Cochrane between 1778 and 1831, was a senior British naval flag officer and radical politician....
, 19th century Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Admiral and British Whig PartyBritish Whig PartyThe Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
politician - Thomas Cochrane, 1st Baron Cochrane of Cults, Scottish Conservative-Unionist. British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
General. - Thomas John CochraneThomas John CochraneAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas John Cochrane GCB was an English naval officer and colonial governor.-Naval career:...
19th century governor of Newfoundland - Tom CochraneTom CochraneTom Cochrane, OC Canadian musician and humanitarian, best known for his hit songs "Life Is a Highway", "Lunatic Fringe", "Human Race" and "I Wish You Well". Cochrane fronted the Canadian rock band Red Rider and has won seven Juno Awards...
, Canadian musician - William CochraneWilliam CochraneWilliam Cochrane was a Scottish MP in the British Parliament.He represented Wigtown Burghs 1708-1713.-References:...
, Scottish MP in the British Parliament - William Arthur CochraneWilliam Arthur CochraneWilliam Arthur Cochrane, is a Canadian physician, pediatrician, academic, and medical executive.Born in Toronto, Ontario, he received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Toronto in 1949...
, Canadian physician, pediatrician, academic, and medical executive - Zefram CochraneZefram CochraneZefram Cochrane is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. Created by writer Gene L. Coon, the character first appeared in the 1967 Star Trek episode "Metamorphosis", in which he was played by Glenn Corbett. James Cromwell later played Cochrane in the 1996 feature film Star Trek: First...
, inventor of the warp drive in the Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
universe