Surname Cush - Meaning and Origin
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Cush: What does the surname Cush mean?
The last name Cush is of English origin, derived from the Middle English and Old French word “coisse” which means cushion, pillow or pad. It may have referred to those that made mattresses and pillows, a nickname for someone who was a “soft touch” or benevolent, or simply an occupational name. In some cases, it may have referred to an ancestor who traveled a great distance and was much “cushioned” from the hardships of his journey.
Some experts believe Cush refers to the earliest descendants of Ham, son of Noah in the Bible and they cite Genesis 10:6 where Ham's son Cush is mentioned by name. Later in this passage, the area of Ethiopia is associated with Cush and his descendants. This linkage of the name Cush to Ethiopia has been asserted in some religious circles, and may explain why some African-Americans today bear this surname.
During medieval times, Cush was commonly used as a nickname for a kindly, generous or just person. During the 16th century, some examples of the use of Cush were found in the poem "The Description of England" by William Harrison. However, Harrison referred to it as a surname, indicating it was in popular use much earlier.
Today, the surname Cush is widely distributed across Europe, North America and Australasia, indicating it has great antiquity and a far-reaching history. The meaning of such a surname can be interpreted in many ways, but most commonly refers to a person who is generous, kind, benevolent, or has a charitable spirit.
Order DNA origin analysisCush: Where does the name Cush come from?
The surname Cush is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Cuis, which is found mainly in Ireland. It may have originated in County Galway, where as many as 29 Mac Cuis families were recorded in the early 19th century. The Cush name has since spread to other parts of Ireland and beyond, including the United States and Canada.
The origin of the surname is usually attributed to the Old French “cusser” meaning “to cut, lop, or trim”. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for someone employed as a wood-cutter or hedge-trimmer.
Today, the surname Cush is most commonly found among families of Irish, Scottish, and Anglo-Saxon heritage. It continues to be a popular surname in Ireland, where it ranks as the 117th most common name. In Scotland, it ranks at number 323. In the United States, the frequency of the name Cush has increased drastically in the past few decades, making it the 4,584th most common surname. It is also common in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Cush
The surname Cush is of English origin derived from the Middle English term 'cussh' which means cushion. The variants of the Cush surname include Cushe, Cussh, Cushh, Cushie, Cusshe, Cushey, Cushy, Kussh, Kusshe, Kussy, Kusshey, Kush, Kusshie, Kushy, Kessh, Kesshe, Kesshey, Kesshie, Keshy, Keesh, Keeshe, Keeshey, and Keeshie. These variant spellings of Cush originate from dialectal variations and phonemes that have resulted in the same spelling being pronounced differently in various areas of the English-speaking world.
The Scottish versions of the Cush surname include Cosh, Coshe, Coosh, Cooshe, Cooshey, and Cooshey. Cushman is an Americanized version of Cush resembling an occupational name typically for a man that held the job of making or selling cushions and other soft furnishings. Other surnames of the same origin are Kish, Kocher, Kishore, Kochnauer and Kochert.
Altogether, these variant spellings, surnames, and phonemes of the Cush surname have been spoken and spelt differently by various cultures and nations for hundreds of years. Today they all share the same basic origin, with Cush being the most widely used version.
Famous people with the name Cush
- Madeleine Cush: American actress who was known for her roles in the film Shanghai Triad, Paradise Road and La Pivellina.
- Annemarie Cush: Irish author and newspaper columnist who wrote the Dan Kane Mysteries.
- Pat Cush: Former Major League Baseball player who was a pitcher for the New York Yankees.
- Sam Cush: American business magnate and entrepreneur who foundedMicrosoft.
- Dave Cush: American professional golfer who was a two-time winner on the Champions Tour.
- Ryan Cush: Canadian actor who appeared in the television series Ghost Wars.
- David Cush: Current CEO of Virgin America.
- Gary Cush: Emmy award winning American television producer and director.
- Jack Cush: American professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Suns.
- Al Cush: American jazz and swing drummer.
- Francis Cush: British Royal Air Force pilot and flying ace during World War II.
- Michael Cush: American politician who served in the Illinois Senate.
- Tony Cush: National Indoor Lacrosse League coach who was an All-American lacrosse player at Hofstra University.