The Cochrane surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,355 people carried this name — #4,246 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 35,300 people counted. That is up 2% from 8,228 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Cochrane surname

A Scottish surname from Scottish Gaelic [in turn originating as a patronymic].

The surname has multiple origins: # From the placename "Lowlands of Cochrane", in Paisley, Renfrewshire. # An anglicization of Scottish Gaelic Maceachrain. # An anglicization of Irish Ó Corcráin (“descendant of Corcrán”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Cochrane» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 42 births for the Cochrane name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,900 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 4 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Antrim, Londonderry, Down, and Tyrone.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 37
Connacht 2
Leinster 2
Munster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 37 people named Cochrane live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Córdoba.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Córdoba 21
Santa Fe 16

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

20 people named Cochrane live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Vaud.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Vaud 6
Zurich 6
Valais 5
Zug 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Scotland, 1880s

Cochrane was 24 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 417. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “South of the Forth and the Clyde, especially in Ayrshire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 587 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Cochrane was recorded 97 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 268th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 176. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Cochrane in American newspapers,
1878–1910.

Newspaper page from The Herald And News carrying the name Cochrane
The Herald And News 1910-10-25
Newspaper page from Frostburg Mining Journal carrying the name Cochrane
Frostburg Mining Journal 1878-08-10
Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Cochrane
The Birmingham Age-herald 1909-11-18

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 5,622 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Cochrane in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

73,952 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Cochrane. The most, 12,371, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Queensland, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 28,745
Queensland 19,866
Victoria 15,835
South Australia 3,817
Western Australia 3,738
Tasmania 1,573
ACT (Canberra) 229
Northern Territory 72

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Cochrane.

Who carried it

People named Cochrane,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Cochrane d. 1650 · diplomat
  • Aphra Fetherstonhaugh d. 1972 · aristocrat
  • Marion Cochrane d. 1559
  • Katherine Elizabeth Cochrane d. 1928
  • Lady Louisa Cochrane d. 1942
  • Elizabeth Cochrane d. 1621

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Cochrane,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,206 records

2,206 records of the Cochrane name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 600
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 554
  • Other U.S. records 1,052
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Frank Cochrane

    Born 1906 in New Jersey. Enlisted 1945 at Fort Riley, Kansas; schoolteacher from San Mateo County, California. U.S. Army veteran; died 1954, buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Susan Cochrane

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the City of Rome from Glasgow and Moville, aged 30; servant. From Armagh, Ireland; bound for Philadelphia.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record John Floyd Cochrane

    Born 1941; from Dearborn, Michigan. U.S. Army, signal security officer; killed in action 1966 in South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 2,206 records for Cochrane in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,822 records

1,822 records of the Cochrane name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 942
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 383
  • Other Australian records 497
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Alice Mary Cochrane

    Born 1869 in Tasman, Tasmania. Married 1889 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 19.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Robert Cochrane

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Typhoon, aged 19; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Thomas Cochrane

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the James Pattison, arriving 1837; certificate of freedom 1844.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 1,822 records for Cochrane in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada664 records

664 records of the Cochrane name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 496
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 42
  • Other Canadian records 126
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Annie M. Cochrane

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 57; buried at St John's Cemetery, Halifax.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Thelma Jennie Cochrane

    Buried in 1999 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 92.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Kathleen Cochrane

    Buried in 1971 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 77.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 664 records for Cochrane in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom134 records

134 records of the Cochrane name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 84
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 33
  • Other British records 17
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record John Barr Cochrane

    Born 1883 at Leith; music seller. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret Richardson Cochrane

    Died 1957, aged 81; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Grace Cochrane

    Will proved in 1936; of Holyhead, Anglesea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 134 records for Cochrane in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand37 records

37 records of the Cochrane name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 25
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 6
  • Other New Zealand records 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Irene Cochrane

    Died 1984, aged 73; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jemima Cochrane

    Buried in 1927 at Buffalo Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 86.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Richard Cochrane

    Died 1924, aged 59; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 37 records for Cochrane in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands14 records

14 records of the Cochrane name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 12
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jane Cochrane

    Married in 1912 in Rheden.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Edith Hamilton Cochrane

    Married in 1893 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Charles Hendric Cochrane

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1911 in Pangkalan Brandan.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Cochrane in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France3 records

3 records of the Cochrane name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Joseph Cochrane

    Born 1962 in Roseau (Dominique); died 1989 in Les Abymes (Guadeloupe).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Sally Cochrane

    Born 1940 in Limon (Costa Rica); died 2001 in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Cochrane in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Cochrane.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Cochrane is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Cochrane volume
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