The Cosgrove surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 9,441 people carried this name — #3,749 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 31,300 people counted. That is up 1% from 9,393 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Cosgrove surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley explains it as ‘of Cosgrove’.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 206 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 40 births for the Cosgrove 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 1,800 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Mayo and Galway. Scattered in Ulster.”

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

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 16
Connacht 15
Leinster 6
Munster 3

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

In Scotland’s registers today

Cosgrove was recorded 33 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 744th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 43. 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

Cosgrove in American newspapers,
1893–1927.

Newspaper page from The Anaconda Standard carrying the name Cosgrove
The Anaconda Standard 1893-03-25
Newspaper page from Le Messager carrying the name Cosgrove
Le Messager 1927-07-01
Newspaper page from The Madison Daily Leader carrying the name Cosgrove
The Madison Daily Leader 1894-11-06

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Cosgrove in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

98,766 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Cosgrove. The most, 40,085, date from the 1940s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Tasmania, at 10.0 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Tasmania 56,130
New South Wales 18,447
Queensland 10,254
Victoria 6,695
Western Australia 3,460
South Australia 2,652
ACT (Canberra) 605
Northern Territory 271

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

Who carried it

People named Cosgrove,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Henry Cosgrove
    Henry Cosgrove 1834–1906 · Catholic priest
  • John Cosgrove
    John Cosgrove 1839–1925 · lawyer
  • Samuel G. Cosgrove
    Samuel G. Cosgrove 1847–1909 · politician
  • Robert Cosgrove
    Robert Cosgrove 1884–1969 · politician
  • Carson Nesbit Cosgrove d. 1936 · politician
  • Tom Cosgrove d. 2017 · American football player

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Cosgrove,
in the records of 8 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 States3,825 records

3,825 records of the Cosgrove name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,440
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,065
  • Other U.S. records 1,320
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Matthew R. Cosgrove

    Born 1915 in New York. Enlisted 1941 at Jamaica; secondary school teacher from Queens County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1975, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    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 Mary Cosgrove

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Richmond from Liverpool, aged 18; servant. From Dublin, Ireland.

    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 Courtney James Cosgrove

    Born 1947; from Van Wert, Ohio. U.S. Army, indirect fire infantryman; died in an accident 1969 in Binh Duong, South Vietnam.

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

Showing 3 of 3,825 records for Cosgrove in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (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).

Australia900 records

900 records of the Cosgrove name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 375
  • Tasmanian Names Index 173
  • Other Australian records 352
  1. 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 Margaret Cosgrove

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Waverley, sailing from London Dublin in 1847. Native of Limerick. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850. Married 1850 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 22.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record James Cosgrove

    Died 1913 in Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1913.

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

    Arrived in Victoria in 1856 aboard the Ocean Chief, aged 3; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 900 records for Cosgrove in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · 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: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada114 records

114 records of the Cosgrove name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 66
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 15
  • Other Canadian records 33
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record George Cosgrove

    Came to Ontario in 1870 aboard the Hibernian, landing at Quebec, bound for Collingwood, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Morley Alexander Cosgrove

    Buried in 2000 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 64.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Donna Elaine Cosgrove

    Died 1991, aged 67; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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

Showing 3 of 114 records for Cosgrove in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand37 records

37 records of the Cosgrove name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 29
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 4
  • Other New Zealand records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Olive Sylvia Cosgrove

    Buried in 1978 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 62.

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

    Died 1943, aged 81; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Albert William Cosgrove

    Died 1955; buried at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 37 records for Cosgrove in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Ireland34 records

34 records of the Cosgrove name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patrick Cosgrove

    Died 1952, aged 67; buried at Eskerstephens, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Thomas Cosgrove

    Died 1982, aged 69; buried at Kilgevrin/Liskeavy, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Michael Cosgrove

    Died 1975, aged 73; buried at Moylough, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 34 records for Cosgrove in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom28 records

28 records of the Cosgrove name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 15
  • Stirling Council burial records 9
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Cosgrove

    Buried in 1888 at Mar Place Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 56.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. J. Cosgrove

    Dragoons. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Arthur Cosgrove

    Buried in 1961 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 73.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 28 records for Cosgrove in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · 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: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands3 records

3 records of the Cosgrove name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  • Dutch population registers 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John Henri Cosgrove

    Died 1964 in Valkenswaard.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John Henry Cosgrove

    Died 1964 in Valkenswaard.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Eindhoven (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Cosgrove in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the Cosgrove 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 John Martin Patrick Cosgrove

    Born 1915 in Boisset-les-Prévanches (Eure); died 1983 in Sevran (Seine-Saint-Denis).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

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 Cosgrove.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Cosgrove 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 Cosgrove volume
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