Cochran

Cochran is a Scottish surname, most frequently a variant of Cochrane, which itself is derived from a place name in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The earliest known appearance of the name dates to the 14th century in Dumbartonshire. The etymology is uncertain, but it likely originates from the extinct Cumbric language, a Brythonic Celtic tongue closely related to Welsh.

Distribution and History

By the time of the 1881 British census, the surname Cochran was most concentrated in Renfrewshire, where its frequency was 34.3 times the British average. Other areas of high frequency included Wigtownshire, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, Buteshire, Stirlingshire, Argyll, Kirkcudbrightshire, and Forfarshire. The family is traditionally associated predominantly with the Western Lowlands of Scotland.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals with the surname Cochran include:

• Alexander Gilmore Cochran (1846–1928), a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania.
• Alexander Smith Cochran (1874–1929), an American businessman and philanthropist.
• Anita Cochran, an American singer-songwriter.
• Anne Cochran, an American singer.
• Barbara Cochran (born 1951), an American former alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist.
• Bob Cochran (born 1951), American Grammy-award winning songwriter.
• Charles Blake Cochran (1872–1951), British theatrical impresario.
• Chester Cochran, American Civil War soldier and Medal of Honor recipient.
• Chestine Cochran (died 2020), American football and baseball coach.
• Chris Cochran, American actor and director.
• Clara Cochran (artist) (1898–1977), British painter.
• Clara Celestia Cochran (1846–1896), first woman to complete the full course at Iowa State College.
• Clarke Cochran, Research Professor of Politics at Texas Tech University.
• Clay Cochran, U.S. Air Force officer and fighter pilot.

Key Facts

• Meaning: Variant of Cochrane; from a place in Renfrewshire, origin uncertain.
• Origin: Scottish (possibly Cumbric)
• Type: Surname
• Usage Regions: Scotland (especially Western Lowlands), also common in English-speaking countries