Surname Coburn - Meaning and Origin

Coburn: What does the surname Coburn mean?

The surname Coburn is of Scottish origin and derives from the Gaelic personal name "Cuthbert" which is made from the elements "cuth," meaning "famous," and "beort," meaning "bright." This was a popular name in the Middle Ages, especially amongst Christians, due to St. Cuthbert, a 7th-century bishop of Lindisfarne, considered to be the patron saint of Northern England. The common phonetics of old Celtic languages often lead to a variety of spellings for the same name. Hence, different forms of the surname include: Cockburn, Coburn, and Caburn among others. The surname can also refer to geographic locations such as the barony of Cogburn in Berwick, Scotland, indicating that the individual bearing the surname might have been an inhabitant or originated from that area. Therefore, the last name Coburn can signify "famous-bright" or refer to geographical origin.

Coburn: Where does the name Coburn come from?

The surname Coburn has its origins in the British Isles, primarily in Scotland, derived from a place named Cockburn which is located in Berwickshire. The name is believed to mean "stream of the rooster" from the Old English “cocc” (rooster) and “burna” (stream). Over time, Cockburn evolved into Coburn.

One of the earliest records of the Coburn name can be traced back to the 13th century, when Sir Robert de Cockburn is mentioned in the Ragman Rolls swearing fealty to King Edward I of England in 1296.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, significant numbers of Scots emigrated to North America, Australia and New Zealand, taking the Coburn name with them. As a result, the distribution of the Coburn surname is fairly wide, but it remains most common in English-speaking countries.

Today, the name is relatively common in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England. In the United States, a significant concentration of individuals carrying the Coburn surname is observed, especially in the northeastern states like Maine and New Hampshire.

Variations of the surname Coburn

The surname Coburn is of Scottish origin, specifically linked to the border region between Scotland and England. It was derived from the place name Cockburn. Variations of Coburn can include Cockburn, Coburne, Cobburn, and Couburn. Notable families with this surname include the Cockburns of that Ilk as well as the Cockburns of Clerkington, Langton and Ormiston, all from the Scottish Borders.

The spelling of surnames often changed across generations and throughout different locations as literacy was not widespread, hence Stenographers and Priests often spelled it based on how it sounded. Over time, these minor variations resulted in different forms of the surname. For instance, Coburn from the Northern English and Scottish borders might have been written as Cobban or Coppen in the Norfolk dialect.

In Ireland, some native surnames have been translated to or replaced by "Coburn". For example, the MacGiobúin family occasionally anglicized their name to Coburn.

These name changes and derivations reflect historical immigration patterns, language variation, and cultural assimilation. It can be helpful when conducting research on family backgrounds to take the possibility of these alternative spellings into account.

Famous people with the name Coburn

• James Coburn: An American actor who featured in over 70 films and over 100 television roles.
• Tom Coburn: An American politician and physician who served as a U.S. senator from Oklahoma from 2005 to 2015.
• Charles Coburn: An American actor who received an Academy Award for his role in "The More the Merrier".
• Jennie Maria Drinkwater Conklin Coburn: An American poet and a member of the National Association of Newspaper Women.
• Ivor Coburn: A British footballer who played for teams such as Southampton and Queens Park Rangers during the 1960s.
• Alvin Langdon Coburn: An early 20th century American-British photographer and member of the Royal Photographic Society.
• Becky Jo Coburn: A film executive with credits in movies such as Monsters, Inc. and Aladdin.
• Mike Coburn: A former British army officer and author of the book "Soldier Five" about his experience in the Bravo Two Zero mission during the Gulf War.
• Frederick Coburn: A Canadian painter known for his rural and winter scenes.
• William Coburn: A Canadian cricketer who played in the 1979 ICC Trophy.

Other surnames

Coburger