Surname McCohen - Meaning and Origin

McCohen: What does the surname McCohen mean?

The last name McCohen is an Anglo-Scottish surname that originated in Ireland. It is a variation on the Irish name MacCathaigh, with a "ch" pronunciation that links it to an older Gaelic name. The McCohen surname is also connected to the MacCochain family, which is a branch of the great Clan MacCotter family.

The ancestry of the McCohen name is traced back to the old Mac Cathmhaoil ("son of Cathmhaoil") family, which first appeared on the ancient Cathmhaoil lands. The McCohens were also some of the first people to settle in County Cork, Ireland, as landowners and farmers.

The name is derived from the ancient Gaelic "Cathmhaoil," meaning "battle proud," and the name was originally adopted in the 1300s by the Mac Cathmhaoil family, the direct ancestors of the modern McCohen family. The McCohens were renowned for their fierce dedication to their faith and their unrelenting sense of honor.

Today, the McCohen surname appears all across the globe, particularly in areas with large Irish-descended populations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It continues to be a symbol of pride, courage, and loyalty to the descendants of the original McCohen family.

McCohen: Where does the name McCohen come from?

The last name McCohen is most commonly found in the United States. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the name was the 2,529th most popular surname in 2020. In 1890, the SSA reports that it was the 4,984th most popular surname.

The name is somewhat more popular in the United Kingdom, where it was the 1,497th most popular surname in 2018, according to the National Statistics Office. This represents a significant uptick in the previous decade, when in 2008 it was the 3,633rd most popular surname.

McCohne is a variant of the Irish surname McCohen, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Eoin, meaning "son of John." As most Irish emigrants settled in America, the original surname has been anglicized to McCohen in the United States.

In America, people with the surname McCohen can be found in all 50 states, as well as in the District of Columbia. A large percentage of people with the surname McCohen can be located in states with large Air Force and Navy bases, as the surname is somewhat popular amongst members of the military. It is also more common in states which have had large Irish-American populations, and particular in those with large numbers of Irish immigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Variations of the surname McCohen

The surname McCohen has varying spelling variations, surnames and origins depending on the region. In Ireland, it is spelled Mac Coen or MacCoin; in Scotland, it is MacCahan; and in England, it is MacCoinne. All of these variations stem from the Gaelic Mac Cobhain, which means son of the warrior, or son of the hound. In Ireland, the Mac Coens were of the ancient Dal Cais dynasty. This clan was based in Clare and Tipperary. The MacCahans were a sept of the Clan Chattan, a northwestern Highland Scottish clan. MacCoinnes were a Lowland Scottish clan based in Ayrshire.

The surname is also found in various other forms. MacCohan, MacKohan, MacGowan, MacGown, MacGowin, MacGoning, MacGowans, MacGonigal, and MacGonagle are all variations of the surnames associated with McCohen. In other parts of Europe, MacChoinne is the spelling variation found in Scotland, while MacGoan and MacGown are the surnames sometimes seen in Ireland.

In America, members of this family may have adopted various Americanized spellings for their surname, such as McCown, MacCown, and McCone. Variations of the surname can also be seen in Australia, where the spellings MacGown, MacGonigal, and MacGrowin appear. It is also found in Africa in varying spellings of the original surname, such as MacCohen, Makkone, and Makoane. Variations stemming from the Russian and German surnames of Makhonin are also seen in some parts of Europe.

No matter the spelling variations, all these surnames stem from the same origin, and all have the same meaning: “son of the warrior,” or “son of the hound.”

Famous people with the name McCohen

• Seth MacFarlane: American actor, animator, filmmaker, comedian, and singer best known as the creator of the TV series Family Guy.
• Rob McElhenney: American actor, director, and producer, best known as the creator of the TV series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
• Michelle Monaghan: American actress who has appeared in multiple films, including Gone Baby Gone, Made of Honor, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and Source Code.
• J.J. Abrams: American film and television producer, director, actor, screenwriter, and composer best known for creating and executive producing the television series Lost, Alias, and Fringe.
• Aaron McCohen: Canadian actor and producer, best known for his roles on the television series Da Vinci’s Inquest.
• Max Cohen: British actor, best known for his roles in the comedy series The Inbetweeners and the films Cracks, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, and Crazy Rich Asians.
• Joshua McEnroe: American actor, director, and writer, best known for his role in the horror film 10 Cloverfield Lane.
• Nia Vardalos: Canadian-American actress, screenwriter, producer, and director, best known for writing, producing, and starring in the 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
• Jason McEwen: British actor, best known for his roles in the television series Highlander and The Avengers.
• Bret McCohen: American actor, best known for his roles in the films The Notebook and We Own the Night.

Other surnames

McCohan