Surname Cohoe - Meaning and Origin

Cohoe: What does the surname Cohoe mean?

The last name Cohoe is of German origin and is derived from the German personal name 'Kohau' which was derived from the word ‘Koh’ meaning ‘brave’ or ‘bold’. Thus, the surname Cohoe implies that the individual carrying this name had extraordinary courage or strength of character. Records of the name date back to the early 16th century in Lower Saxony, Germany where it originally began as a baptismal name.

The modern spelling of the surname is variant and may includes several other spellings such as Cohoe, Koehle, Kohla, Kohlau, Kohle or Kohlhau. Other known variations of the surname include Koehler, Kohl, Kohlen, Kohls, Koehlinger, Kohlhauer, Koehler, Kohler, Kohles and Koehn.

The name migrated from Germany to the United States in the 18th century and is most common in the states of California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Various family members with the Cohoe surname have gained notoriety such as Major General Edward C. Cohoe, keeper of the Baltimore Light House; box-office star Neil Hamilton Cohoe; Col. John C. Cohoe, a Civil War veteran; and Pastor Moody William Cohoe of the Long Beach Christian Temple.

Today there are many people carrying the surname Cohoe who have made a contribution to their respective fields and communities. The surname Cohoe is a symbol of courage and strength of character that has been respected and honoured for centuries.

Cohoe: Where does the name Cohoe come from?

The surname Cohoe is most commonly found in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is estimated that over 5,000 people bear the name, making it one of the more common surnames in the province.

The origin of the Cohoe surname is believed to be Irish. It is suggested that emigrants, likely from County Cork, arrived in Newfoundland in the late 17th Century and began to form a fishing settlement on the Avalon Peninsula. The Cohoe family is believed to be descended from these settlers.

Today, there are still large concentrations of the Cohoe surname in Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly in the communities of Conception Bay North and Carbonear. Many of the numbers remain in the fishing industry, although some have diversified into other areas such as carpentry, retail, and education.

The surname Cohoe is relatively uncommon in other parts of Canada and the United States. The Census of 2011 recorded only 22 people who shared this name in the USA and about 243 people in Canada outside of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Variations of the surname Cohoe

The surname "Cohoe" is believed to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland and is a variant of the ancient Gaelic surname "Cochad". It is a locational surname that refers to a specific geographical location of the northern coast of Scotland, possibly Caithness, known as "Cohoe". It can also be spelled as "Cowhoe" or "Cooeh".

Cohoe is a sept of the Clan Mackay in Scotland, located between Huntington and Kinlochbervie, north of the Kyle of Tongue. It is thought to derive from the Gaelic term for a wood or copse that was abundant in the area.

Variants of the Cohoe surname include Coehoe, Cowohoe, Cowhea and Covhoe. More rarely, it may be spelled as Cowhoy, Cowhow or Cohough. In Ireland, it is sometimes spelled as Coohoe.

In addition to the main variations of the name Cohoe, there are other surnames that have the same origin. These include Cawhay, Cawhey, Cawhoo and Cawhy. Generally, these variants are adapted to different languages and localities, which is why the spelling of these surnames vary so much.

The first recorded mentions of the Cochad and Cohoe families date back to around the 12th century in Scotland. The distribution of the name has remained mainly concentrated around the northern coast of the country, particularly in the Caithness area. It is believed that most of the families of this name are descended from Norman-Gaelic, or Norse, ancestry.

Despite its limited historical expansion, there are still many people today who bear the Cohoe surname, or one of its variants. They can be found primarily in Scotland, England and Ireland, although the surname has spread to other parts of the world as people with the surname have moved. Today, it is a rare but still not uncommon name.

Famous people with the name Cohoe

• Devon Cohoe: American Actor
• Alexa Cohoe: American Musician
• Grant Cohoe: American Radio Personality
• Faith Cohoe: American Actress
• Gus Cohoe: Retired Professional Hockey Player
• Kelsey Cohoe: American Television Actress
• Catarina Cohoe: American Model and Entrepreneur
• Theodore Cohoe: American Politician
• James Cohoe: American Voice Actor
• Mason Cohoe: American Influencer and Entrepreneur

Other surnames

CohoCohoon

Comments or additions to the name "Cohoe"

23.12.2023
The surname Cohoe is more common within Arizona and Utah in its usage across the United States. This is due to the surname being of Navajo origin.