Surname Cousland - Meaning and Origin
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Cousland: What does the surname Cousland mean?
The last name Cousland is of Scottish origin. It is possibly derived from the Norman toponymic surname Cuseland, which itself comes from the old Norman French words “cuze, cous” and “lande”. This suggests that the name may have been used to describe individuals who owned or lived on land which was occupied or previously owned by a family with the French Cuze surname.
In modern times, the surname Cousland is most commonly found in Scotland, where many of the bearers of the name have origins closely tied with the country’s history. It is likely that the name was brought to Scotland by Norman migrants in the 12th century. In more recent times, the name has spread to other parts of the world due to migration.
The meaning behind the surname Cousland may have originated out of a sense of comfort and home for many individuals, suggesting a strong connection to the land. This is still reflected in many bearers of the name today, with the surname conjuring up a feeling of stability, belonging, and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisCousland: Where does the name Cousland come from?
The surname Cousland is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland today. It is a Scottish surname originating in the barony of Cousland in Midlothian, Scotland. Its name comes from an Old English name, Cooseland, derived from "coose," an Old English word meaning "cotton grass."
In general, the surname Cousland is most widely found in Scotland, where it ranks as the 681st most common surname. It is particularly prevalent in the Lothian and Peebles regions of Scotland. Additionally, it is found in large numbers throughout the rest of the United Kingdom, with significant numbers of bearers concentrated in South East England, particularly London.
The distribution of the surname throughout the rest of the world reflects the widespread Scottish diaspora throughout the globe. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, the surname Cousland is found in considerable numbers, particularly in the former two. US Census records show high levels of the name in states such as Montana, Maine, and Wisconsin.
Due to its Scottish origin, the surname Cousland is particularly associated with the United Kingdom and particularly Scotland. It remains a popular surname among Scots today, especially in the regions where it was first recorded in the Middle Ages.
Variations of the surname Cousland
The surname Cousland is of Norman-French origin and originally denoted the origin of the bearer as a person from a place called “Cousland” which is believed to have been somewhere in Normandy in what is now Northern France.
Variants of the surname are Couslan, Coosland, Casland and Coulsland, appearing in records in England and Scotland respectively. In Ireland, variants include Coslin, Costelloe and Costello.
It is unknown when the surname first made an appearance in Britain but records of it date back to the 12th century. The earliest records are found in Britain with Nicholas Cosland being recorded as a priest in 1296 in the “Registers of the Abbey ofPaignton”. Another mention of Cousland is found in records in1576 when Gilbert Cousland attested to a charter of Holyrood Abbey.
In Scotland, variants of the surname Cousland include Coulsland, Couslant and Couslent with the earliest recorded mention being in the 16th century. A Donald Coosland is recorded in 1590 as being a priest of Invernahyle in Perthshire.
The spelling of the name can be attributed to the way it sounded to an English speaker with records showing that the name was often recorded differently. Records of the name Cousland are found in many European countries including Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Ireland. As late as the 18th century, records of the name Cousland have been found in France and Finland.
Worldwide, the name is still quite popular today and is particularly prevalent in the British Isles, Europe, Canada and the United States.
Famous people with the name Cousland
- Alexander Cousland (1797-1871): Canadian politician
- Michaela Cousland (born 1989): Canadian fencer
- John Cousland (born 1989): Canadian ski jumper
- Sarah Cousland (born 1983): Canadian bobsledder
- Angus Cousland (1750-1821): British military leader
- Carl Cousland (1744-1814): British captain and explorer
- Ian Cousland (born 1983): Canadian hockey player
- Duncan Cousland (active 1684-1718): British marine
- Don Cousland (born 1957): Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Jackson Cousland (1883-1946): Canadian politician and businessman