Cozens

Cozens is a surname of English origin. The name appears in medieval records and is generally treated as a byname or patronymic, likely derived from a personal name such as Cozen or Cousin, or from the noun cousin meaning kin. The exact origin is not definitively established, and the form Cozens may reflect regional pronunciation and spelling patterns that varied across medieval England.

Today, Cozens is found in the United Kingdom and in countries with historical English-speaking communities, including Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Within these regions, the surname occurs across social strata and contributes to the broader tapestry of English surname distribution.

Variant spellings include Cozen, Cousens, Cousin, and Cozens; such variants arose from transliteration and orthographic changes over centuries as names were recorded in parish registers, censuses, and other documents.

As a surname with no single outstanding historical bearer, Cozens has been carried by many individuals across fields such as academia, the arts, sports, and public life. The name reflects broader patterns of English naming practices and migration, and continues to appear in genealogical and historical records.